<![CDATA[Achievement motivation is a crucial psychological factor that determines the consistency and peak performance of athletes in competitive sports. This study aims to describe the achievement motivation of badminton athletes at PB Reformasi Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, using a descriptive qualitative approach based on lived experience. Four male athlete participants aged 17–20 years were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through structured interviews and analyzed using the Miles and Huberman model, with data validation conducted through member checking. The results indicate that all three dimensions of McClelland's achievement motivation theory are clearly manifested: need for achievement is reflected through measurable goal-setting, post-defeat self-evaluation, and training persistence; need for affiliation is evident through a supportive social climate and professional conflict resolution; and need for power appears through tactical leadership orientation and decisive on-court decision-making. The athletes' achievement motivation is dynamically constructed by the interaction of intrinsic factors, including personal ambition and self-discipline, and extrinsic factors, including family support, coaching guidance, and national competition targets. These findings are expected to serve as a foundation for developing contextually relevant psychological coaching programs for regional sports clubs. ABSTRAK Motivasi berprestasi merupakan faktor psikologis krusial yang menentukan konsistensi dan puncak performa atlet dalam olahraga kompetitif. Penelitian ini bertujuan menggambarkan motivasi berprestasi pada atlet bulutangkis PB Reformasi Kupang, Nusa Tenggara Timur, menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif deskriptif berbasis lived experience. Sebanyak empat partisipan atlet laki-laki berusia 17–20 tahun dipilih melalui teknik purposive sampling. Data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara terstruktur dan dianalisis menggunakan model Miles dan Huberman, dengan validasi data melalui member checking. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa ketiga dimensi teori motivasi berprestasi McClelland termanifestasi secara nyata: need for achievement tercermin melalui penetapan target terukur, evaluasi diri pasca-kekalahan, dan persistensi latihan; need for affiliation terwujud melalui iklim sosial yang suportif dan penyelesaian konflik secara profesional; serta need for power tampak pada orientasi kepemimpinan taktis dan pengambilan keputusan di lapangan. Motivasi berprestasi para atlet dikonstruksi oleh interaksi faktor intrinsik berupa ambisi pribadi dan disiplin mandiri, serta faktor ekstrinsik berupa dukungan keluarga, arahan pelatih, dan target kompetisi nasional. Temuan ini diharapkan menjadi dasar pengembangan program pembinaan psikologis yang kontekstual bagi klub olahraga daerah. ]]>
