Veteran coach Dharshana Fernando upgrades coaching skills in China

Seasoned coach Dharshana Fernando, now based in Canada and engaged in professional coaching, is currently attending advanced training programs in China as part of his continued effort to further develop his badminton coaching career.

The initiative is aimed at learning new techniques, modern training systems, and high-performance methodologies, which he plans to transfer to the next generation of players he coaches.

Despite nearly six decades in the sport, Coach Fernando strongly believes that learning never stops. Guided by this philosophy, he is currently undergoing an advanced badminton training program in Hangzhou, China, widely regarded as one of the world’s leading hubs for elite-level badminton development.

His objective is to stay updated with modern coaching methods, evolving tactical systems, and scientific approaches to athlete performance enhancement. He intends to bring this knowledge back to his students and share it across both local and international platforms.

His coaching philosophy is built on strong fundamentals, footwork precision, tactical awareness, and mental resilience, all of which he considers essential components of success in modern competitive badminton.

An old boy of St. Thomas’ College Bandarawela, Fernando’s journey in badminton began at school level, where his dedication and discipline helped him rise through the ranks to become a Junior National Champion. He later went on to represent Sri Lanka as a national player for several years, establishing himself as a consistent performer at the highest level of the sport.

His career later took him to Bahrain, where he continued to compete at a high level. During his time there, he achieved another milestone by becoming the National Champion. Alongside his playing career, he also began contributing to the sport as a coach, mentoring aspiring players and sharing his technical expertise.

In 2001, Fernando relocated to Canada with his family, driven by a vision to develop badminton at both grassroots and competitive levels. Determined to establish himself as a professional coach, he pursued and successfully completed his National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) Level 3 qualification.

He initially worked with several clubs, gaining valuable experience within the Canadian badminton system and refining his coaching approach. In 2003, he took a major step by founding his own academy, Fernando’s Youth Badminton Academy.

What began as a modest initiative has since grown into a well-recognized and respected name in the badminton community. Today, the academy is supported by a team of dedicated coaches, all working under his guidance to nurture players across various skill levels, from beginners to competitive athletes.

Even as a coach, Fernando’s competitive spirit remained strong. Competing at Masters level internationally, he has represented Canada and won both gold and silver medals, further strengthening his reputation as both a player and a coach.

His performances, combined with his refined technical understanding of the game, soon attracted international attention. This led to his first overseas coaching assignment in Thailand in 2010. Since then, his expertise has been in demand globally, and he has been invited to conduct coaching programs in nearly 30 countries.