National and international badminton coach, Gokarn Ramdhani, has landed the head coaching gig at the Olds College Broncos Badminton Team in Alberta, Canada.
Ramdhani assumed the post after previously serving as the technical coach for the college where he helped the team to secure one silver and five bronze medals at the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference Provincial Championships and fourth at the Nationals in Mississauga, Canada.
“I am happy to have gotten this position as it gives me greater chances for becoming a better coach and it’s always a pleasurable priority to be around badminton and getting players to the highest level possible. This position also gives me a chance to draft international players,” Ramdhani said following his recent appointment.
He added: “I started playing in 1983 when I attended Queen’s College and made it into the National Team in 1985. It was such a memorable time playing with the top players and many times I used to ride from Republic Park to Queen’s College so that I can play with the top players from Linden (Nathan Montague, Billy Holder, Elroy Glasgow, Mike Brummell). In those days, training and keeping fit was needed as you had to keep up if you wanted to get selected.
“My training was waking up in the morning at 5 am and running over Guy bridge and back; weight training three times a week and practice five times a week. It was rewarding as my doubles partner Sean Barnwell and I held the most titles during the `80’s and `90’s. Special mention to the late Ms. Ismay Holder who taught me lots in becoming a sports administrator by putting me on the executive of the Guyana Badminton Association which I continue to run to this day. I am also at the moment the longest-serving council member on the Guyana Olympic Association from 1988 to date.”
Meanwhile, the college’s sports hierarchy expressed delight after securing the services of the Guyanese, labelling the appointment a glove in hand fit following his previous successful stint.
“Gokarn brings so much experience and passion for the game of badminton. It was a natural fit for him to move into the head coach role after being the lead technical coach last year under Mary Smith. The student-athletes will have the opportunity to learn from one of the best,” said Trina Radcliffe, athletic manager of Olds College.
Ramdhani has nearly 20 coaching certificates; he coached the Caribbean Games, South American Games, Commonwealth Games, CAC Games, Pan Am Games, World Juniors, Suriname International, Pan American and Caribbean Championships.
He also wore the caps of national Chef de Mission – South American Games (Colombia) 2010, Commonwealth Youth Games (Isle of Man) 2011 and South American Games (Chile) 2014.
