Geelong Badminton Academy is going from strength to strength, with a milestone of 50 juniors now registered.

It’s a far cry from the academy’s humble beginnings with a handful of young players just 12 months ago.

The progression has been marked by the successes achieved by a GBA junior team recently in the Beyond Bank Junior Classic events.

After two events, the team amassed three gold medals and three silver medals, and several players made it to the semi-finals.

Geelong Badminton Academy Head Coach Naman Bhardwaj said the early hard work by the coaching staff paid off, with interest in the program skyrocketing in recent months.

“When we began, we had a few kids who were keen, even though they needed a lot of coaching to make significant improvements to their game,” Naman said.

“But as they began realising the benefits of the coaching program, more kids joined.”

As well as Naman as head coach, the academy has a roster of three well-qualified coaches, who have all reached representative badminton levels.

Coaching sessions are split into beginner and intermediate classes across six days a week.

Naman said some academy students were approaching advanced levels.

“As coaches, we can see the growth in the tournament team even after only two events,” Naman said.

“They are realising that their hard work at training stands them in good stead away from the home base of Geelong.”

Badminton Victoria is thrilled to see the GBA flourishing. This growth enhances the local badminton scene and reflects our commitment to developing young talent and promoting the sport across the region.

We look forward to seeing more achievements from these promising players as the Academy grows. The GBA's journey inspires other clubs and highlights the potential for growth and success within the badminton community.