JAIPUR: Former Indian shuttler Shlok Ramchandran has been making waves as coach in the United States that too within two years of moving to the new country.
Three of Shlok’s students from his new club Synergy Badminton Academy have made it to the US junior badminton team -- the most from any club in the USA.
Selection trials to pick the US team for the BWF World Junior Badminton Championships concluded in Dallas a couple of days ago.
The former world No. 32 in the men’s doubles, Shlok has now settled in the US after announcing his sudden retirement from international badminton in 2020 at the age of just 24.
Thanks to his impressive coaching abilities, Shlok now is in contention for being the official coach of the US badminton team for the World Junior Championships which will be held from September 24 to October 8, 2023, in Spokane, Washington, United States.
If he becomes the coach of the American junior team, then he would be the youngest ever in the history of US badminton.
Obviously, Shlok, who hails from Mumbai, is thrilled with his three trainees making the cut for the national squad.
“I am extremely delighted with Allison Lee, Francesca Corbett and Samuel Li making the World juniors squad. Arden Lee has also made the Pan Am squad for Under-17 mixed doubles,” Shlok told TOI on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old is enjoying his new challenge and is determined to make a mark as a coach in the US.
“It’s been only a couple of months since I’ve joined Synergy Badminton Academy and players have responded well to my methods, but the credit goes to the entire coaching team at Synergy. The support from the management has been great which has helped in a big way,” said Shlok.
The former Indian doubles specialist is happy that the 23rd edition of the Junior Worlds is being held in the US itself. He hopes one of his three trainees will make the country proud by finishing on the podium.
Francesca Corbett and Allison Lee are ranked No. 50 in the women’s doubles and regarded as quite promising.
“There is still a long way to go but the target is to get Samuel and the pair of Allison-Francesca a podium finish at the WJC which will be hosted in the US itself. Now that I have more time before they play the next tournament, I am excited to work with a younger lot as from U-13 to U-17 and help them push on to the next level,” said Shlok.
Shlok was an integral part of the Indian men’s badminton team having represented the national team in all the major tournaments. The tall shuttler has also won 7 BWF titles and finished runners-up in 4 tournaments.
His highest world ranking in the men’s doubles was 32 with MR Arjun in 2018. After Shlok’s retirement, Arjun has been partnering with Dhruv Kapila.
