Featured Players

or Vera, badminton isn’t just a sport — it’s part of her family story. Her parents met through their university badminton club in Russia, and to this day they start their mornings on the court and end their evenings watching world championships together. Their passion became her inspiration. Vera has carried that legacy proudly. She has previously represented in the Australian Badminton Open series and claimed several national masters titles — including a cheeky 2nd place in men’s singles when no women’s event was offered. As one of the original co-founder of Badminton Connect, she’s deeply proud of the growth of Melbourne’s badminton community and looks forward to seeing gifted players continue to lift Australia's standing on the world badminton stage.

Badminton has always been part of me. I can’t remember when it started — it’s like I was born with it. When my mum finally allowed me to compete at 14, I threw myself into it completely. I trained twice as hard as everyone else because I wanted to catch up and prove I belonged. That year, I made it into the state team. It was one of the proudest moments of my life. Then at 15, I was injured, and everything stopped. I thought that was the end of my story. But in my 40s, when a friend invited me to play again, something inside me woke up. The first time I stepped back onto the court, it felt like coming home. Since then, badminton has been my teacher — showing me patience, awareness, and discipline. I may not talk much, but I watch, I learn, and I work hard. Every rally is a new chance to improve. Badminton is not just what I do — it’s who I am.

From F Grade (Failed) to A Grade — Proving It’s Never Too Late to Rise Grace Ong is often described as gentle and soft-spoken — a grandmother who loves to laugh, cook, and care for others. Every Wednesday, she brings homemade desserts to share with anyone joining her social badminton group at DTBA. It’s her way of giving back to the community that has offered her so much love and friendship. Grace began her badminton journey at the age of 35, after 17 years of playing golf. What started as a simple goal to stay active and healthy soon became a lifelong passion. Beginning in F grade, she often lost matches but never lost her smile. With patience, humility, and encouragement from friends at her club, she slowly climbed the ranks, taking 20 years to reach A grade. DTBA became her second home. When her children were young, fellow members would help look after them so Grace could play. Those small acts of kindness stayed in her heart and strengthened her bond with the community through every season of life. Now at 66, Grace continues to train and compete in senior tournaments, proudly earning a bronze medal at the World Senior Championships. For her, the true reward isn’t the medal — it’s the joy of growing, sharing laughter, and showing others that it’s never too late to follow your passion. Badminton keeps her heart young and her spirit bright. Through her journey, Grace reminds everyone that no matter our age, we can always move with grace, live with purpose, and inspire others simply by doing what we love.

Luke is a former number 1 ranked Australian national badminton player and 3-time national champion dedicated to proving that high performance has no age limit. At the age of 38, he continues to train and compete, driven by the belief that age should never define a person’s capability or limit what they can achieve. In addition to his sporting pursuits, Luke works as a Senior Lecturer at Deakin University. Through the ability to balance elite level sport with a professional academic career, he hopes to inspire and show others that it is possible to thrive and excel in multiple areas of life. Luke is seeking sponsorship from partners who share these values: resilience, growth, empowerment, and the belief in lifelong potential. With your support, he will continue to train, compete, mentor developing players, and to promote the message that sport is for life. In return, he offers meaningful brand alignment, community engagement opportunities, and public visibility at events. Together we can encourage people to keep dreaming, keep striving, and keep pushing their limits, no matter their age or level of ability.

As a dedicated athlete, my ultimate goal is to earn a place on the national team and proudly represent my country in international competitions. Reaching this level requires an intense commitment to training, travel, and continuous performance development, both physically and financially. Sponsorship support would help ease the financial burden that comes with competing at a high level. This includes costs such as travel to qualifying events, training camps, equipment upgrades, and nutrition and recovery expenses. By partnering with sponsors, I can focus fully on improving my performance and reaching my potential, without the constant pressure of covering these growing expenses alone.

I started playing badminton when I was about 20 years old and I have never stopped since. Badminton to me is more than just a sport — it’s my stress relief medicine. Every move on court re-energises me and pushes me to go further. It helps me reconnect with my younger self and reminds me that age is just a number — I can still move, keep up with the rallies, and play competitively. Badminton is also our family bonding activity, as both of my children play badminton very well. It has become part of my life — past, present, and definitely future.

As a mum to three energetic boys, my days are a whirlwind of laughter, movement, and joyful chaos. Staying fit isn’t just a goal—it’s a promise I make to myself and to them. It’s about matching their boundless energy, being fully present in every moment, and showing them the power of living an active, joyful life. Badminton is more than a sport—it’s my sanctuary. It’s where I recharge, share laughter with friends, feel the heartbeat of my community, and reconnect with myself. Every swing of the racket, every sprint across the court, reminds me that I’m not just keeping up—I’m thriving. This commitment to movement and joy makes me a stronger wife, a more present mother, and a better version of myself. I choose strength, youthfulness, and passion—not just for them, but for me

I started playing badminton when I was very young. At 12, I was ranked number two in my school and even got invited by a coach to train seriously. But my dad said no, so I had to stop and ended up playing volleyball instead. At 17, I was proud to represent my state team, and even after moving to Australia, I kept playing until family commitments took over. At 40, I picked up badminton again just for fun. But at 49, when life hit hard and I nearly gave up completely, badminton saved me. I was depressed, lost, and didn’t know what to do next. Thinking of my kids gave me strength to keep going — I wanted to live and become someone they could be proud of. Through competition, I slowly rebuilt myself—one rally, one match, one step at a time. What started as a way to stay fit became a journey of healing, strength, and rediscovery. Now, in my 50s, I’m still playing, training, and competing with various partners. I’m not done yet—I’m still learning, still improving, and still chasing goals. My story isn’t about being the best; it’s about never giving up on what you love and proving that it’s never too late to start again. If my story speaks to you, I’d be honoured to have your support. Together, we can inspire others to pick up their rackets—and their dreams—again, no matter where they are in life.

Here's a personal statement emphasizing those aspects: "As a former Malaysian national hockey player, my transition to badminton might seem unexpected, but it's been an incredible journey that showcases how athletic skills can transcend sports. Playing for DropShot MaPa has allowed me to apply my defensive mindset and strategic thinking in an entirely new way.