Former Sacramento State professor, administrator and badminton enthusiast James Bosco recently won a gold medal for badminton in October at the Sydney, Australia, Senior World Masters.

Bosco won the award for the 80-to-84 age group. Since retiring in 1995, James Bosco has become a leader in badminton tournaments around the globe with victories over some of the best badminton players in the world.

“It’s overwhelming because you’ve got thousands and thousands of people in at least 26 sports,” Bosco said. “I was a little disappointed because there wasn’t much competition in my age group; there was extremely few in the 80-plus age group.”

This win was not the first gold medal for Bosco but rather an addition to his already long list of accomplishments. Starting in 2002, Bosco has ranked in 18 different badminton competitions for the 75-to-79 age group. He is undefeated in eight consecutive different men’s singles since 2008. Bosco’s passion has him travel not only all over the United States but around the world.

Bosco has a doctorate in exercise science and said that knowledge is a strong factor for him staying in such great shape and becoming such a formidable badminton player. To stay in shape and put his knowledge into practice, he works out three times a week at a badminton club inside Paragon Mechanical.

Paragon Mechanical is located in Santa Clara, Calif. Paragon’s primary function is a factory specializing in the manufacture of various industrial piping and architectural sheet metal. Steve Benakovich built the badminton studio inside the factory, he met Bosco through a mutual friend who came to play.

There are about eight to 12 players on a given night. The player’s ages range from their mid-20’s all the way to Bosco standing firm in his early 80’s. Benakovich said Bosco keeps up with the younger crowd with no problem.

“I really like playing with the younger people because when I play against my age group I’m very competitive,” Bosco said.

The age diversity and experience between the players offers a pool of knowledge that all members can use to improve their game.

“Jim is a smart player, he really understands the game,” Benakovich said. “He’s an inspiration to all of us. He’s unbelievable.”

A combination of his skill, passion, and etiquette has made Bosco popular with his peers at Paragon, Benakovich said.

“He’s a great ambassador to the sport … he has a desire to go all over the world and play,” Benakovich said.

Bosco began his career at Sac State as a division chair of health recreation and athletics but felt compelled to return to teaching.

Associate Dean of the College of Health and Human Services Fred Baldini is a former student of Bosco’s. Baldini took classes from Bosco at Sac Sate from the late “70s to the early “80s. It was Bosco that influenced Baldini’s career choice.

Previously a math major, Baldini attended his first class taught by Bosco and changed his outlook on education. On the first day in that class to help illustrate specific language used to describe different anatomical positions, Bosco jumped up on his desk and began acting out the definition with such passion, Baldini said. Bosco’s passion for his subject inspired Baldini to change his major, he said.

“The big thing I could say about him was he was all out. If he said he was going to do something, he did. If he said he was going to support you, he supported you,” Baldini said. “He was the kind of guy you wanted on your side in an argument or against a challenge you were facing. He was a tiger.”

Baldini played badminton with Bosco back in the early 1980s while Bosco was teaching.

“Nobody could play with him, he was phenomenal. He would just toy with you. He could play all day with people half his age” said Baldini.

Bosco back then could keep his students running up and down the court tiring them out before he’d he would get out of breath.

From an academic standpoint, Bosco is regarded as a pioneer in the sciences behind exercising and a vocal advocate of the importance of health science, said Baldini.

Bosco is still connected to the university through the CSU Sacramento Emeritus Association and the scholarship he founded, the James S. Bosco Underrepresented Incentive Graduate Endowment. Bosco is an active member of California Faculty Association and his professional records are maintained in the library archives.

After winning many competitions Bosco still has a desire to compete and play the sport. In 2013 he hopes to travel to Turin, Italy, for the Senior World Masters. The Italian location is an added bonus for Bosco.

“We can’t miss it because I’m an Italian American. If I go to the world masters, I’ll definitely look up some relatives. (Italy) is a tremendous place to visit,” Bosco said.

Above all else, Bosco attributes his accomplishments to being fortunate and blessed. Bosco has been married to his wife Mariana for 56 years. He has one son, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

In March Bosco plans to compete in the Senior National Championships in Tucson, Ariz.

Cahil Bhanji can be reached at [email protected].