Program Overview

Maribyrnong Sports Academy (MSA) is a Badminton Australia Performance Pathway Partner – the only school in Victoria in 2023. Badminton Australia have partnered with suitable applicants to create sustainable high performance programs in clubs, associations, and schools, to develop athletes from the foundational level right through to the elite level of the sport. MSA formed a partnership with Badminton Victoria in 2023 to jointly appoint head coach, Ross Smith.

Our staff are all Australian Badminton accredited coaches, and all have National and International Badminton experience to draw upon in support of others. At MSA Badminton, we are very proud of our alumni student athletes, Gronya Somerville and Jacob Schueler who have graduated through our program to the National Badminton squad and many National Teams representations including Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

High Performance Coaching

The MSA Badminton program aims to support student athletes to achieve their dreams. Our student athletes are aiming for selection into Victorian Junior Teams to compete at National Carnivals such as the U15 Val Nesbitt, U17 June Bevan, U19 C.P. Maddern Trophies and their respective individual national age-group championships. Some are aiming to be selected into Australian junior and senior teams to compete at events such as World Junior and World Senior Championships, Thomas and Uber Cups, the Commonwealth and Olympic Games.

Coaches

Ben Walklate - Head Coach -  3 time Australian Doubles Champion (2006, 2008, 2009),  Mixed doubles champion (2009), Australian representative at World Team championships.  Past U17 National coach (2015-2017), U19 national coach (2017-2018) , Former State coach, Level 2 nationally accredited coach and Head technical badminton coach of Maribyrnong Sports Academy.

Ross Smith – Head Technical Coach: Oceania Men's Doubles Champion (2008, 2010, 2012). Australian representative at World Championships (2006, 2007, 2011, 2014), World Team Championships (2007, 2011, 2013), Commonwealth Games (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018) and Olympic Games (2008 and 2012). Current Head Junior State Coach and Level 2 Registered Coach

Erin Walklate – Technical Coach: Australian Ladies Doubles Champion (2009). Australian representative at Commonwealth Games (2006) and Olympic Games (2008). Victorian State Junior Coaching experience. Level 2 Badminton Australia Coach. BWF Shuttletime Tutor & Teacher.

VeeVian Chong - Sessional Coach – Current Badminton Victoria Performance coach who oversees the Senior state squad, para badminton development squads, and assists with the Junior State squads. Australia and Malaysian Representative International Player. Nationally accredited coach and Co-founder and head coach of Westside Badminton. 

Nelson Oon - Sessional Coach: Australian Men Singles Champion (2013 and 2014), State Coach for U15, U17 and U19, Australia Representatives International Player. Level 1A nationally accredited coach, Head Coach for Western Suburb Badminton Association.

MSA Badminton Alumni 

Gronya Somerville – National and Oceania Doubles Champion, Olympian and Commonwealth Games athlete.

Jacob Schueler – Open National Singles Champion, Commonwealth Games Athlete.

Charlie Jap – U15 National Singles Champion.

Fiona Le – R/Up U15 National Mixed Doubles.

Shrey Dhand – U13 National Singles Champion, U17s National Singles and Doubles Champion, Represented Australia at u19 Oceania championships. Current National Development Squad Member.

Thomas Ng – U15 National Doubles Champion, Current National Development Squad Member.

Dimitri Han – U19 National Squad Member.

Om Neelam –U13 National Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles Champion. U15s National Doubles Champions, U17s National Doubles Champion.