Badminton Association welcomes International Coach to aid game’s development here

Aug 06, 2026 Sports

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(Kaieteur News) – The Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) has taken another significant step towards strengthening the development of badminton in Guyana with the arrival of internationally experienced coach Kartikey Gund of India, who will be based in the country for the next six months.

Gund brings more than seven years of experience in developing junior and youth badminton athletes through some of India’s leading badminton academies in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Delhi-NCR. He currently serves as a coach at The Sports School in Bengaluru under the mentorship of renowned Indian badminton coach Pullela Gopichand. Prior to this, he spent two and a half years as an Assistant Coach under Indonesian coach Brahmastafany Dhanu Utomo, where he was instrumental in delivering structured training programmes, preparing athletes for competition, and fostering a high-performance training environment.

During his six-month assignment in Guyana, Gund will work closely with the country’s national players while also providing technical support to the Association’s affiliated clubs. His role will focus on enhancing players’ technical and tactical abilities, mentoring local coaches, and identifying promising young athletes for inclusion in the Guyana Badminton Association’s High Performance and Development Programme.

The initiative forms part of the GBA’s long-term strategy to strengthen badminton at every level and provide greater opportunities for players throughout the country. In addition to national team training, the Association will launch a comprehensive Club Development Programme that will see affiliated clubs benefit from scheduled coaching visits, technical guidance, and structured athlete development support.

GBA President, Emelia Ramdhani, expressed confidence that the programme will have a lasting impact on the sport.

“The arrival of Coach Kartikey Gund marks another important milestone in our efforts to raise the standard of badminton in Guyana. His international experience and technical expertise will greatly benefit our athletes, coaches, and clubs as we continue to build a stronger pathway from grassroots participation to elite competition.”

As part of his immediate responsibilities, Coach Gund is currently working with and preparing a junior team that will represent Guyana at the CAREBACO Junior Championships 2026, scheduled for August 12–18, 2026, in Kingston, Jamaica. The tournament will provide an important opportunity for some of Guyana’s emerging junior athletes to gain international competitive experience and measure their development against some of the region’s best young players.

Questioned on his acceptance to work with the Guyana Badminton Association, and motivation to help develop badminton in Guyana, Coach Gund stated, “First, I would like to thank the Guyana Badminton Association for giving me this opportunity—especially Emily, ma’am for believing in me and inviting me to Guyana. I am also grateful to Akili, whom I had the opportunity to coach when he visited India, for supporting the idea of bringing me here, and to Treena for arranging my accommodation and making me feel comfortable from my first day.”

“I accepted this opportunity because I wanted a new challenge and the chance to help badminton grow in Guyana. Development takes time, but with hard work and teamwork, I believe we can build a strong future. I am excited to work with the players and coaches and would be happy to continue this journey if my contract is extended.”

Giving an insight on what coaching philosophies or training methods he hopes to introduce to help the development of local coaches, Gund informed, “My coaching philosophy is built on discipline, hard work and enjoyment of the game. I want to introduce modern training methods that develop technique, footwork, physical fitness, match strategy and mental strength.

I also want to work closely with the local coaches and share my experience with them. When coaches improve, players improve as well. My aim is to help establish a strong and sustainable coaching system that will support the long-term growth of badminton in Guyana.”

With the Caribbean Junior Championships beginning on August 12, the Indian coach disclosed that his main objectives for the Guyanese team are, “Our first objective is to prepare the players well and help them compete with confidence. We are focusing on improving their technical skills, physical fitness and match strategy.”

“Naturally, we want strong results and medals, but it is equally important for the players to gain experience and learn from every match. The Caribbean Junior Championships will be an important step in their development and preparation for future international competition.”

He concluded by expressing thanks and calling for all concerned to put in the work needed for success.

“I would like to thank everyone for the warm welcome. My message is simple: let us work together. Players, coaches, parents, administrators and supporters all have an important role in developing badminton.

Success does not happen overnight; it requires time, patience and teamwork. Guyana has talented players, and if we remain committed and united, I believe we can achieve great things. I am happy to be here and hope to be part of this journey for a long time.”

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• aid, Badminton, International Coach, Kartikey Gund

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