Badminton player Ashwant Gobinathan celebrates success

FERNTREE Gully’s Ashwant Gobinathan is celebrating after recent success on the badminton court.

Ashwant Gobinathan is Australia’s top-ranked male badminton player and recently celebrated success at the World Mixed Team Championships of Badminton. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

FERNTREE Gully’s Ashwant Gobinathan is a star on the badminton court, and his talents don’t end there.

The 24-year-old, Australia’s top-ranked male badminton player, is also studying medicine at Melbourne University and plans to become a doctor.

He is celebrating recent success with the Australian team at the World Mixed Team Championships of Badminton — the Total BWF Sudirman Cup — which was held at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre.

The team finished 15th, the highest they’d ever finished in the event.

“It was really fun, a good experience,” Gobinathan said.

“It’s one of the biggest tournaments in world badminton so it was good to be a part of it.

“There is not many other things that feel better than going out on the court (and representing Australia).”

He has played badminton since he was seven, and also coaches at the Badminton Academy of Victoria in Kilsyth.

“It’s quite hard to balance with my studies as well ... but I love playing and coaching,” he said.

He is aiming to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast next year, and the Olympic Games in Toyko in 2020.

Gobinathan is this week’s Knox Leader Senior Sports star nominee.

For more stories and to nominate visit localsportsstars.com.au/leader

With thanks to our 2017 partners Sportsmart, SportsTG and Gold104.3.