Whatever your activities, your sport is badminton.

A busy routine is not always a reason to postpone exercising. For some people, playing badminton becomes a much-anticipated agenda amidst their busyness. Whether as a hobby or for maintaining fitness, this sport seems to serve as a productive and enjoyable "escape."

Irham (22), a migrant from Palembang who now lives in South Jakarta, has made badminton a routine activity that he can't leave behind. "Because I've been playing badminton since I was little, it's become a regular sport that would be a shame to leave behind," he said when met at the Pasar Tebet Sport Center, Wednesday (3/9/2025).

In Jakarta, Irham resides in Kalibata, South Jakarta. His busy schedule as a technical expert for a member of the People's Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI), which is highly demanding, often keeps him occupied with various exhausting agendas. Therefore, playing badminton has become a pleasant and healthy "escape" for him.

"In the midst of my busy schedule, which involves a lot of mobility, I really enjoy playing badminton. Even though I'm tired after work, playing badminton is a hobby, so I still enjoy it," he said.

As a migrant, Irham admitted he didn't have many friends with the same hobby. The solution was to join a community through the Reclub app, which connects people with a passion for badminton. "Because I don't have many friends who share my badminton hobby, I usually join Reclub. At Reclub, we meet random people who can eventually become new friends," he said later.

Reclub is an application that connects people to exercise together. Amidst his busy schedule, this application greatly assists Irham in finding playmates. The application can be downloaded through Google Play and the Apple Store.

Irham regularly plays badminton, one of the most popular sports in the country, about one to two times a week at the Sports Hall (GOR) around South Jakarta. He never misses this popular sport for more than two weeks. Moreover, at Reclub, he can meet new friends.

Unlike Irham, another group of badminton enthusiasts, namely Adrian (23), Ataya (24), and Aulia (23), prefer to play with close friends. They are committed to playing at least once a week, and it can reach two to three times a week, amidst their respective busy schedules.

"Usually, you do it regularly, at least once a week. Sometimes, if the time is right, you can do it two or three times a week. But the important thing is that you definitely play once a week. This is a commitment we've agreed on together," he said.

The three young individuals who recently graduated from university already have jobs in their respective fields. Adrian, a young man from Depok, works in production at PT Swastika Berkah Utama, Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta.

Aulia, the only woman in the group, lives in Bogor. She works in marketing at British American Tobacco (BAT) in Gatot Subroto, South Jakarta. Meanwhile, Ataya, who lives in South Tangerang, works as an associate consultant at Arghajata Consulting in Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta.

In addition to being busy at their respective workplaces, the three young individuals from the same university are also building a community focused on youth, politics, and democracy, namely @bincang.muda. Amid their packed activities, they are committed to playing badminton regularly.

To maintain that commitment, they have a unique system for paying for the use of the field. "We never pool money when we play. For example, this week, I will pay. Next week, Aul (Aulia) will pay, and the week after that, Taya (Ataya) will pay. So, with this system, whether they like it or not, everyone has to regularly participate in the games," Adrian stated when met at the Kukusan Sports Hall in Depok, West Java.

According to them, the rental price for badminton courts is considered quite affordable, ranging from Rp 40 thousand to Rp 60 thousand per hour. Therefore, it is not surprising that they are committed to a rotating payment system.

In agreement with them, Irham also does not mind reaching into his pocket to play badminton through the Reclub application. According to him, the price for a single badminton session is relatively affordable and commensurate with the benefits received.

“The (court rental rates) vary and are considered affordable. The range is between Rp 40,000 to 50,000, depending on the duration of play and the number of people in the community,” said Irham, who was using a Yonex Nanoray 70 racket while playing badminton.

They are flexible in determining the time and location for playing. Adrian, Ataya, and Aulia, for instance, usually play on weekends or in the evenings on weekdays, adjusting to their respective schedules. Their playing locations are also varied, ranging from the sports hall in Depok, Jakarta, to Bumi Serpong Damai, South Tangerang.

For them, badminton is no longer just a sport, but also a way to relieve fatigue and socialize...