The Douglas College Royals badminton team proved once again the toast of the country.

The No. 1-ranked Royals won three individual gold medals at the Canadian Colleges' Athletic Association national badminton championships at Mount Allison University in Sackville, N.B. in March, including an unprecedented fifth straight women's doubles title by Melody Liang.

Liang's doubles partner, Stephanie Ko, earned a fourth consecutive national doubles title, while singles sensation RuiLin Huang became a three-time national champion and the national association's first-ever three-time female player of the year.

It was Huang's third straight undefeated season in individual league and tournament play in a college career spanning more than 120 games.

Not to be outdone, a pair of Douglas College men also made their mark at the badminton nationals.

B.C. runners-up Darren Hong and Rey Luo avenged an earlier loss in the collegiate provincial finals, taking the gold medal at the national championships in men's doubles.

All five Douglas players swept their combined opposition without dropping a single game.

"To tell you the truth, I expected it to be much harder this year," said Douglas head coach Al Mawani.

Prior to the nationals, Douglas won its sixth consecutive provincial college championship title on its home court in New Westminster.

"I'm very, very proud of the team," Mawani added. "It shows we have a program and not just the individuals within it."

Liang and Ko graduated from Douglas at the end of the school year, while Huang decided to take time out from the 2011/2012 season.

The current Douglas Royals badminton team ended 2011 in a similar fashion, winning both tournaments in the fall semester by wide margins and holding on to an almost insurmountable points lead heading into the winter break.

tberridge@royalcityrecord.com