Ng adds to collection

"I was a bit surprised to hear that I had the record, but it made sense in a way because people usually specialize in one area," Ng said. "My best win in high school was probably the mixed doubles because it was with my brother. It was also the hardest, because when you're playing with your sibling you get mad at each other more easily."

Ng, headed to Cal in the fall, is an acclaimed national player who will compete for the U.S. junior national team in the Pan American Games in Brazil on July 15. After that, Ng heads to Anaheim on Aug. 8 for the U.S. Open, one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world. Ng trains at the United Badminton Club in Fremont, under the tutelage of former World Champion Dhou Lei.

On the court, Ng is in perpetual motion. She uses her athleticism and amazing footwork to get to every shot, then pound her opponents into submission. However, it's her stamina and willingness to play all day that really stand out. When she plays a tough opponent, Ng will engage in long rallies and attempt to win a battle of attrition. Simply put, her competitiveness is off the charts, and she runs like a gazelle, moving with ease and fluidity.

Ng credits her dad, Richard, with instilling in her a will to win and teaching her the fundamentals of the game. Richard, 57, is a standout player and was undefeated against her daughter up until last year. He coached a couple of players who eventually went to the Olympics. Ng has the talent to one day make the Olympic team, but she hasn't decided whether or not to make the commitment. After all, players in the U.S. Olympic badminton program sacrifice a lot for little or no financial gain.

"If I wanted to try to make the Olympic team, I would have to put everything else in my life on hold," Ng said. "I'm not sure I could do that, because there's a lot of things in life I want to accomplish. Unfortunately, you can't make a living playing badminton."

Before Ng became one of the nation's best players, she took her lumps against top-flight competition.

"I used to get beat in singles a lot," she said. "I never thought of quitting because I loved badminton, but it was tough dealing with all the losses."

Nowadays, Ng only deals with wins. <