The EA Badminton Academy Journey

From Haileybury Courts to the World Stage – The EA Badminton Academy Journey

When the Haileybury Scholar Kaitlyn Ea (OH 2021) and Joshua Ea (OH 2022) co-founded EA Badminton Academy in February 2023, they shared a united mission: to inspire and develop the next generation of players, beginning at the grassroots level and building a pathway towards competitive excellence.

Both Kaitlyn and Joshua experienced firsthand the impact of Haileybury’s high-performance culture in shaping resilience, discipline and ambition — traits that have defined their own academic and sporting careers. Kaitlyn, now a student at the University of Melbourne, has represented Australia at the Commonwealth Games, the World Championships and World University Games, claimed victory at the Oceania Championships, and achieved a career-high world ranking of 52. Joshua, currently studying at Monash University, has proudly represented his university at a national level and captained the Victorian State Team. From captaining both the APS and First Haileybury Badminton premiership teams, to now coaching Haileybury’s First Team, they continue to give back to the school community by passing on their skills to the next generation of school athletes.

EA Badminton Academy began with a single Tuesday beginner group session, fostering a fun and supportive environment for players of all abilities. As interest grew, the academy expanded to include three weekly group training sessions, school holiday training sessions and partnerships with local schools to run tailored badminton programs.

One of the academy’s greatest strengths is its coaching team, comprised of World Master Champions, National and State team players. Many coaches are students from the University of Melbourne and Monash University, offering players relatable role models who understand the balance between sport, study and personal growth. The combination of elite experience and youthful energy creates an environment where players not only receive high-quality technical training but also learn life skills such as leadership, perseverance, and goal-setting.

In just over two years, EA Badminton Academy has grown beyond its local beginnings. In December 2025, the academy will take a significant step onto the international stage with an elite overseas training camp in partnership with badminton legend Lin Dan, the two-time Olympic gold medallist and five-time World Champion. The training will be held at the state-of-the-art Lin Dan Badminton Stadium in Guangzhou, offering high-performance training led by former Chinese national and state coaches as well as matches against local clubs and state team players. It also offers an opportunity to experience the cultural richness of one of badminton’s strongest nations.

https://www.eabadmintonacademy.com.au/lin-dan-camp-1

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