The Islamic Association of Collin County (IACC), also known as Plano Masjid, hosted the Inter-Masjid Badminton Tournament in Plano, Texas, Saturday, July 25, 2026.
Anja Schlein/The Dallas Morning News
PLANO — The thwack of rackets hitting shuttles filled the gymnasium of the Islamic Association of Collin County. Several teams of badminton players locked their eyes on the airborne birdies, racing to hit them over one of the four nets in the bustling Plano mosque.
It wasn’t yet 9 a.m. Saturday, but dozens of participants from six area mosques were gearing up for the first inter-masjid badminton tournament hosted at the Plano Masjid or IACC. The masjid, or mosque, seeks to promote the wellbeing of the “mind, body and soul,” said its president, Akram Syed.
“Prayer is for mental health, and badminton is for physical health,” said tournament player Mahbub Rahman.
Article continues below this ad
Around 50 players registered to take part in the all-day event, according to tournament director Lu Rahman. The day opened with a reading from the Quran, the national anthem and remarks from Plano Mayor John Muns.
Related: EPIC mosque in Plano seeks to meet ‘hatred with love,’ continue outreach despite protests
Organizers and attendees said the event marks a milestone of growth in the Muslim community, celebrates an inclusive and culturally beloved sport, and brings people together in the wake of anti-Muslim sentiment in North Texas.
Lu Rahman hopes the mayor’s participation shows the city is “inclusive, even though there’s harsh rhetoric happening.”
“I hope those of you that are here visiting the city of Plano feel that love and understanding that no matter your faith, no matter where you come from, it doesn’t matter,” Muns said in his opening remarks before picking up a racket and joining a match. “We welcome you here in Plano.”
Article continues below this ad
A growing community
Syed remembers when his congregation was just an assembly of a few families in the 1990s. Today, the mosque welcomes thousands of families and has called its building on Independence Parkway home for 25 years.
Plano Mayor John Muns, shakes hands after playing a few minutes of badminton, as the Islamic Association of Collin County (IACC), also known as Plano Masjid, hosted the Inter-Masjid Badminton Tournament in Plano, Texas, Saturday, July 25, 2026.
Anja Schlein/The Dallas Morning News
Manha Haque, 21, said she attended the Plano Masjid growing up.
“We didn’t have a gym, and it was just a small little room,” she said. “It’s really crazy to see in the last 20 years how much it has grown, and seeing mosques all over Plano.”
Article continues below this ad
Lu Rahman said the growth of the Muslim community in North Texas can be attributed to the region’s growth on the whole. It’s an attractive place to live — for its low crime, many jobs and good schools, he said. It’s also welcoming.
“This community actually is vibrant, all-inclusive,” Lu Rahman said. “That invites many people to this community.”
Badminton’s roots
Badminton is a popular sport in South Asia — in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, Mahbub Rahman said. Many players grew up playing the sport in another country, but brought their love of badminton to North Texas and taught their children to play.
Mahbub Rahman, 51, lives in Murphy and is originally from Bangladesh. He is an award-winning badminton player.
Article continues below this ad
Related: North Texas mosques open doors to challenge misconceptions about Islam and Shariah
“We have a lot of childhood memories playing this,” he said.
But when he first moved to the U.S. in 1997, there were few opportunities to play. When he moved to North Texas around 2016, that changed. He found a thriving badminton culture and began competing.
“It’s really very competitive. I’m a little bit nervous,” he said of Saturday’s tournament.
The IACC’s courts have doubled since he first came to the area. Many mosques have added gyms.
Article continues below this ad
“And still we had to wait in line to play,” he said.
The Islamic Association of Collin County (IACC), also known as Plano Masjid, hosted the Inter-Masjid Badminton Tournament in Plano, Texas, Saturday, July 25, 2026.
Anja Schlein/The Dallas Morning News
Mahbub Rahman enjoys the health benefits of the sport. It keeps him active as he ages and engages his hand-eye coordination. The sport is not very injury-prone and it’s fairly inexpensive, Syed said.
“This is a sport that anybody can play,” Syed said; it’s multigenerational and multinational.
Haque, who watched her dad play in Saturday’s tournament, said the sport offers a way for her community, including many immigrants, to “connect to their roots.”
Article continues below this ad
“Badminton brings a lot of people together,” she said.
‘Love usually wins’
In recent years, community members said they’ve seen hateful language, protesters and political attacks against the Muslim faith.
Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton have opposed the proposed development of a Muslim-centric neighborhood near Josephine, backed by a group from the East Plano Islamic Center. The mosque has sued a Texas agency that regulates funerals, which ordered the mosque to halt its religious funeral services last year.
Related: East Plano Islamic Center lawsuit against state funeral agency can proceed, judge says
Anti-Muslim protesters have gathered outside of EPIC, disrupting the mosque’s weekly food drive, members said.
In Frisco, a mayoral candidate compared Indian immigrants to rats and called Islam a “terrorist group.” Rod Vilhauer also backed out of attending a candidate forum held at a mosque and vowed to stop Shariah in campaign mailers. He lost the election.
Syed said he’s seen hate bordering on Islamophobia. But for 30 years, he said his community has worked with local and state government without issue.
“This is a very unfortunate recent phenomenon,” he said. “I’m surprised that this hateful rhetoric is happening, and I’d like to believe it’s created by politicians for their own benefits.”
The Islamic Association of Collin County (IACC), also known as Plano Masjid, hosted the Inter-Masjid Badminton Tournament in Plano, Texas, Saturday, July 25, 2026.
Anja Schlein/The Dallas Morning News
Mahbub Rahman said he hopes people learn more about the mosque and what community work is done there instead of listening to politicians. He’s grateful Plano’s mayor attended the event Saturday.
The IACC also hosts a food drive every Saturday. Cars lined up down the street to pick up free boxes of food during the badminton tournament. They serve hundreds of families each weekend, Syed said.
“If you come towards me with hate,” Lu Rahman said, “I’m going to respond with love and respect. … Love usually wins.”
This weekend, the community is focused on coming together as one, he said — and, of course, playing badminton.
Email tips on all things Collin County to lilly.kersh@dallasnews.com.