Panthers of ISKL #288: The Badminton Tournament Organizers
At ISKL, students are empowered to transform their passions into purposeful action, and that’s exactly what Armaan K. ('26) and Nikita M. ('26) have done. Driven by a shared love for badminton and a deep connection to service, the duo launched a Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) project that brings refugee youth from the Chin Women’s Organization (CWO) onto ISKL’s campus to learn, play, and connect through sport.
By partnering with the Badminton World Federation (BWF), Armaan and Nikita created a program that teaches athletic skills, builds confidence, fosters inclusion, and creates a meaningful bridge between communities.
Here are their stories:
Aarmaan K. (‘26)
Do tell us more about yourself.
My name is Armaan, and I was born in the United States. I was born in Jacksonville, Florida, where most of my extended family lives. Ethnically, I am half Pakistani and Indo-Guyanese. My parents immigrated to the US at a young age for better opportunities and education. My father was in the United States Navy for more than 40 years, and that is why we were stationed here. Before moving to Kuala Lumpur, I lived in Washington, DC.
When did you join ISKL? What were your first days like?
I joined ISKL in Grade 6. I remember coming to ISKL and feeling very lonely because I had moved from DC to Malaysia and didn’t know anyone. That’s when my parents forced me to try out badminton. It was a new sport that we didn’t have in the US, and they said it was a way to meet new people and make friends.
At first, I didn’t want to play badminton because I thought it was boring, but I really began to enjoy it. During the Movement Control Order (MCO) period, I began to get lessons and train in badminton more and more, and this is where I began to build a passion for it.
What inspired you to start your CAS project? How did you come up with the idea of organizing a badminton program for refugee kids?
Combined with my love of badminton, which I had fostered from Middle School, and playing on the Varsity team, along with my interest in the Chin Community Partnership club, Nikita and I considered centering our CAS project around these two passions. When Ms. Garrima told us about ISKL trying to foster a relationship with BWF, we requested to partner with them. They accepted our requisition, and we began our project, in which we helped them with their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) campaign by teaching the CWO Refugees badminton at ISKL.
What made you choose badminton as the sport of choice for this initiative?
We chose badminton as our sport of choice because Nikita and I are both very passionate about it. We both really enjoy it, and we knew we would have fun teaching the CWO refugees.
Nikita and I were on the Varsity Badminton Team together in Grade 9, and we knew we were suitable to teach the sport together. Other factors, such as court space and our ISKL facilities, played an important role in choosing this sport because we knew we could use the Robert B. Gaw Theatre outside area as a space and reserve courts with the Athletic Directors.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while organizing this project, and how did you overcome them?
One of the main challenges in our CAS project was getting the refugee children to pay attention to what we were trying to teach them. We observed that their attention span was very short. To fix this problem, we gave them more undivided attention by teaching in smaller groups with more people teaching; this way, it would be easier to capture their attention.
Another way we were able to fix this problem was by switching to an older age group, as the older kids had longer attention spans and were able to grasp some of the skills we were teaching.
How has this experience shaped your perspective on leadership, community service, and sports?
This experience has completely reshaped how I view leadership, community service, and sports. I realized that teaching and leading are far more difficult than they seem. It takes a lot of patience, planning, and the ability to adapt on the spot, especially when working with younger kids who may not always be focused or responsive. This taught me that leadership isn’t just about giving instructions but connecting with others and being flexible when your intended plans don’t always go as planned.
I wouldn’t say anything has been reshaped in terms of community service, but I feel that at ISKL, there is an overwhelming opinion that community service is a school requirement. My time with the Community Partnership Club and my CAS project has shown that community service should be something meaningful and personal that resonates with you and the community surrounding you. Using my passion for badminton to support and uplift others made me realize how small actions can create positive change.
What are the most valuable skills or lessons you’ve gained from leading this initiative?
Leading this initiative with Nikita has taught me the importance of communication, flexibility, and empathy. I learned how to adjust my teaching style based on the needs and energy of the kids' level, how to work efficiently with other people like Nikita, and how to stay organized when planning sessions or coordinating with adults like Ms. Garruma and the BWF team.
But the biggest lesson I learned was how impactful small actions can be when done with purpose. Seeing the kids improve, smile, and engage more in our sessions showed me that leadership is about lifting others and creating spaces where they feel seen and supported.
What advice would you give other students looking to start a meaningful CAS project? What are your plans after graduating from ISKL?
My biggest advice to anyone starting a CAS project is to think about what you’re genuinely passionate about. It doesn’t have to be something huge - just start with what you love, and find a way to use that passion to help others in your community. That’s exactly what Nikita and I did. We’ve loved badminton ever since we played, and we combined that with our interest in community service and made this project both meaningful and enjoyable. Once you have that foundation, everything else falls into place more naturally.
Also, we’ve now built a relationship between ISKL and the BWF, which opens the door for future students passionate about badminton to continue this project. You don’t have to start from scratch - you can build on what we’ve created and make it even better.
As for my future plans, I plan to study in the United States and get accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. My goal is to serve in the U.S. Navy, like my father did.
What does “Know yourself, care for all, and create a better world” mean to you?
To me, this means understanding your own personal mission and passion and what drives you. Once you truly know your purpose, it shouldn’t be something you keep to yourself but should be shared with others. Your mission should inspire action that supports and uplifts the people around you. Caring for all means using that mission to create inclusive and meaningful change. That’s how we build a better world, starting from within and reaching outward.
Nikita M. (‘26)
Do tell us more about yourself.
I was born in Singapore and lived there until I was four. I then moved to Perth, Australia, and lived there for five years before moving to Malaysia - that would make this my eighth year here in ISKL. I am originally from India, and I speak Tamil.
When did you join ISKL? What were your first days like?
I joined ISKL 8 years ago, at the old Melawati campus. My first days were stressful, and I was quite nervous, but I got used to it. I had a rough journey, but now I have found the people I call my family at this school.
What inspired you to start your CAS project? How did you come up with the idea of organizing a badminton program for refugee kids?
I wanted to do this particular project because badminton is one of my greatest passions and something I love. Additionally, as an exec and planning the activities, I have understood what the kids need and love the most: physical activities. They don’t have the facilities and equipment to play badminton at their school, and they have expressed their desire to do so on numerous occasions. So I thought, why not combine the two things I love - badminton and the kids, to teach them something memorable?
What made you choose badminton as the sport of choice for this initiative?
I absolutely love it, and it is something they love too.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while organizing this project, and how did you overcome them?
One of my biggest challenges was teaching a new sport to a very young and energetic group of kids. While they show much energy, it can be hard to maintain their attention while teaching them technical aspects. Although we are still trying to overcome this issue, Armaan and I have incorporated many more engaging activities. We attended a whole-day workshop run by BWF on badminton teaching and how to be a good coach. The activities we learned at the workshop have been helping us well.
How has this experience shaped your perspective on leadership, community service, and sports?
This experience of teaching badminton to young kids has shaped my perspective on leadership because I have developed a contextual understanding of how to teach kids based on their different skill levels and attention spans. It’s important to be a leader and lead by example so the kids will listen to you.
Additionally, seeing the kids enjoy learning badminton and truly learning has been such a privilege to witness. I understand that they do not have the opportunities like we do, but it really is mesmerizing when you witness them enjoying themselves during amazing opportunities, especially when you help create the opportunities. I always knew sports brought people together, but it still astonishes me how people bond, and I am growing closer to the kids through badminton.
What are the most valuable skills or lessons you’ve gained from leading this initiative?
The most valuable lessons and skills I have learned are the importance of communication and adaptability. It was really important that Armaan and I communicated with the manager in BWF, who has been working with us. Since they provided us with lesson plans and equipment, it was important that we communicated with them regularly about our progress and asked for feedback along the way.
Additionally, the kids were more excited than we expected. Because of their young age, their attention spans were very short. So, we had to alter the lesson plans that BWF provided us with to ensure they catered to our group of kids - we did this by making the activities more engaging.
What advice would you give other students looking to start a meaningful CAS project?
My advice to other students who want to start a meaningful CAS project is to understand what is lacking in the world and the ISKL community so that they can make a difference.
Additionally, they should pick something that they are passionate about and focus on how they can make a difference through their passion. For example, one of my top passions is badminton and the Chin kids. I realised one of the main things lacking was their facilities and the opportunities to learn badminton. Thus, I combined these to create a meaningful and impactful CAS project.
What are your plans after graduating from ISKL?
My post-grad plans are to take a trip to Spain and India to spend time with family and friends before I leave for Australia in February to study Architecture.
What does “Know yourself, care for all, and create a better world” mean to you?
I think this phrase fits this CAS project exactly. ‘Know yourself’ means knowing what makes you happy. Really ask yourself, what makes you happy, and how will you make a difference through your happiness? Knowing your passions and what makes a difference to you, you can care for others, provide them with the opportunities you have, and share your happiness. In this CAS project, I shared the happiness I felt through badminton with the Chin kids who don’t have the same opportunities. Lastly, create a better world. Create a world where everyone feels included, and you can truly believe you contributed and made a difference. A world where you belong.
Do you know of any student, teacher, parent, or staff who always have an anecdote to tell, love to share some insights into their passions and interest, or simply is a Panther through and through? Nominate them to be featured in our Panthers of ISKL stories by sending in your submissions here.