Three-time Commonwealth Games representative Renuga Veeran has joined the Badminton Australia high performance team as the national development coach.
Veeran debuted at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, before going on to finish fifth at the London 2012 Olympics, returning to represent Australia at the Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018 Games. Previously ranked No. 1 in Australia for both women’s and mixed doubles with countless international representations for Australia, Veeran will join a new look Badminton Australia high performance coaching team featuring two fellow Commonwealth Games representatives in Stuart Brehaut and Jeffrey Tho.
Badminton Australia announced its new Australia National High Performance coaching team consisting of Stuart Brehaut (National Senior Head Coach), Jeff Tho (National Senior Coach), Renuga Veeran (National Development Coach), Ian Bridge (National Para Head Coach) and Ashley Naumann (High Performance Pathway Manager). The team will take Australia to the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, Sudirmann Cup and develop the national senior team of tomorrow in the lead up to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Veeran enjoyed a stellar career in Oceania competitions after moving to Australia when she was 16-years-old, quickly becoming the No. 1 ranked female player in Australia, and becoming the first player in the Oceania region to be simultaneously ranked No. 1 in women’s singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles.
Badminton Australia CEO Jamie Parsons is excited to Veeran join the coaching ranks and share her knowledge and experience with Australia’s best young badminton players.
“We are delighted to have such a talented and experienced person join our team together with our other national coaches to drive the outcomes required as part of the new HP Badminton system for Australia,” Parson said.
Performance Pathways Manager Ashley Naumann believes the addition of Veeran will beneficial for the next generation of elite Australian badminton players.
“I’m extremely pleased that Renuga will be joining the coaching team for Badminton Australia,” Naumann said.
“Her playing experience and knowledge of the Australian system will continue to make her a great asset to badminton alongside her playing career.”
Stuart Brehaut is the National Senior Head Coach, a role he has held over the past two years. A former Olympian who competed at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, Brehaut is also a three-time Commonwealth Games representative for Australia, debuting at the Kuala Lumpur 1998 Commonwealth Games.
Jeff Tho joins the coaching team in a more senior role after training national team players in Melbourne, a two-time Commonwealth Games representative making his debut at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, Tho is a former gold medal winner in the men’s singles at the Oceania Championships.
Ian Bridge is the current Badminton Oceania Coach & Development Officer, Badminton Australia National Para-development Officer and Para-badminton head coach.
Ashley Naumann has 20 years of experience working in high performance programs including as a professional tennis player and as a high performance tennis coach with the Australian Institute of Sport and Tennis Australia.
With thanks Badminton Australia.
