Meet The Team

Sam is a current professional badminton player competing internationally on the Badminton Europe and BWF World Tours, representing England at events across the world. As a member of the Badminton England Performance Programme, he is ranked inside the world’s top 100 and trains full-time alongside the country’s top athletes. Sam is also the founder and Head Coach of Jones Badminton Academy (JBA), where he combines his elite playing background with a passion for inspiring the next generation through high-quality coaching and maximising the experience of every player in the academy.

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Sam brings over five years of diverse coaching experience to his role as Head Coach at JBA. He has introduced countless young players to the sport through Badminton England’s national programmes and his coaching work across Milton Keynes and the South of England. Alongside his grassroots focus, Sam also coaches at the highest junior level, currently leading the development of four elite performance squads at the UK’s top junior academy. His coaching team at JBA is made up of fellow international athletes, ensuring all sessions are led with world-class knowledge, energy, and passion for badminton.

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Qualifications:

• 1st4Sport Certificate for Coaches in Badminton at Level 2

• Badminton England Coach Member

• Badminton England Safeguarding and Protecting Children Qualification

• Enhanced DBS Certificate

• Badminton England Club Welfare Officer

• Emergency Paediatric First Aid

• Designated Safeguarding Lead (Children)

Emily is a former international badminton player who was part of the England junior national programme until the age of 19.

 

She first picked up a racket at just 8 years old and began training at 12. From there, her passion and dedication took her across the world going as far as Malaysia where she achieved success in both national and international tournaments. 

 

By the age of 18, Emily had reached the top 10 in the England Senior Rankings and the top 40 in the World U19 Junior Rankings.

 

After focusing on her career and family, Emily has the ambition of returning to international competition on the Masters Circuit in the next few years. Alongside this, she continues to represent Buckinghamshire at Senior County level and competes in national tournaments.

 

What Emily loves most about badminton is the sense of community and enjoyment it brings. Her own experiences are some of her most cherished memories - particularly playing county badminton and spending time with friends after school. She is deeply passionate about helping the next generation create similar experiences, gaining confidence, friendships, discipline, and respect through the sport.

 

Emily is also strongly committed to the safety and holistic development of young people - physically, mentally, and emotionally. She believes every child should have the opportunity to try new activities, build friendships, and grow in a safe and supportive environment. Emily says she is proud to be part of JBA, as she feels these values are truly embodied. She firmly believes that sport plays a vital role in personal development and can open doors to valuable opportunities later in life.

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Qualifications:

• Emergency First Aid in Sport

• Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) for JBA

• Youth Mental Health First Aider

• Enhanced DBS Certificate

• ⁠BSc (Hons) in Sports Therapy

• Certified and PCI Accredited Health & Wellbeing Coach

• BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport and Exercise Sciences

• Level 3 in Nutrition to Support Physical Activity  

• NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing 

• Sports Leaders UK Level 2 in Community Sports Leadership

Olly is a highly experienced badminton player and coach, having won numerous junior national titles before progressing to represent the England men’s national team. He currently trains full-time with the national squad in Milton Keynes.

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At senior level, he has achieved multiple international titles and continues to bring a wealth of high-performance experience into his coaching.

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Olly has coached across several leading academies and is also the badminton coach at Stowe School. He brings great energy to every session and is passionate about creating a fun, engaging environment where young players can develop and enjoy the game.

 

Qualifications:

• 1st4Sport Certificate for Coaches in Badminton at Level 2

• Badminton England Coach Member

• Badminton England Safeguarding and Protecting Children Qualification

• Enhanced DBS Certificate

• Emergency Paediatric First Aid

Robin has won multiple junior national titles and represents his country in international Badminton tournaments across Europe at senior level. He currently trains full time at the National Centre, competing at a high level while continuing to develop as an athlete. Alongside his playing career, Robin has gained significant coaching experience through 1-to-1 private sessions as well as leading and assisting group training at one of the UK's top junior academies. A qualified Level 2 Coach, Robin is dedicated to supporting players’ development by combining technical knowledge with high-performance experience.

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Qualifications:

• 1st4Sport Certificate for Coaches in Badminton at Level 2

• Badminton England Coach Member

• Badminton England Safeguarding and Protecting Children Qualification

• Enhanced DBS Certificate

• Emergency First Aid in Sport

Alex was one of England’s leading men’s singles players, a 2x National Champion and 3x National Championship runner-up. He has achieved a world ranking inside the top 100 and has been ranked as high as GB No.2, bringing extensive international and domestic experience to JBA.

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Alongside his playing career, Alex is a National U19 Pathway Coach with Badminton England and is passionate about developing the next generation of players. He is driven by a strong ambition to raise standards and play a role in returning England to success on the European and world stage.

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Qualifications:

• Level 3 Coach

• Enhanced DBS Certificate

• Badminton England Safeguarding and Protecting Children Qualification

Alex is a full-time badminton player training with the England national squad in Milton Keynes. He started playing at age 7 at Wimbledon Racquets and Fitness Club, after being introduced to the sport by his brothers.

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He has won 8 junior national titles and finished as runner-up at the senior national championships. Internationally, he has won 4 titles, including recent victories in Ireland and Azerbaijan, and reached a career-high world ranking of 52 in Men’s Doubles.

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Alex began coaching through junior group sessions at Wimbledon Racquets and Fitness Club, working with players aged 6–18, helping to support their development in a fun and engaging environment. He is passionate about bringing his years of experience as a player and coach to JBA!

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Qualifications:

•  Level 1 Coaching Qualification

Dan is a full-time professional badminton player with the England National Team and a former three-time U17 National Champion who has also represented England at the World Junior Championships in India. He’s now beginning his coaching journey with JBA and will soon be taking his Level 2 Coaching Qualification. Dan loves working with juniors, especially those picking up a racket for the very first time, and brings a friendly, positive approach to every session. His goal is to help young players enjoy badminton, feel confident on court, and discover just how fun the sport can be.

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Qualifications:

• Emergency First Aid in Sport

Lizzie is a professional badminton player representing England on the international circuit. A full-time member of the national squad, she competes regularly on the Badminton Europe and BWF circuits.

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She has achieved multiple national titles at junior and senior level and has gone on to secure medals and titles on the international stage as a senior athlete. Notably, in 2026 she won the English National Championships in mixed doubles (with Head Coach Sam) and also won the Polish Open in women's doubles.

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Lizzie brings current elite-level experience into every session at JBA and is passionate about supporting the development of young players. She is also looking to begin her formal coaching qualifications in the near future.

 

Qualifications:

• Enhanced DBS certificate

Ben combines elite playing experience with a growing coaching career. As a junior, he won multiple national titles and medals across several age groups before representing England at the U15 and U19 European Championships and the BWF World Junior Championships. After several years in the Badminton England Junior Performance Programme, Ben progressed to the Senior Performance Programme in 2024 and now trains full-time alongside the top players in the country.

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Alongside his playing career, Ben has built strong coaching experience. He began with the Community Badminton project, working with players of all ages and abilities, before moving on to coach his county team, Oxford. He has also delivered tailored 1-to-1 sessions and group training to support players’ individual goals. Since early 2025, Ben has been an integral part of Milton Keynes Badminton Academy, coaching within their Shuttle Stars programme and supporting the development of squads ranging from grassroots players to elite international juniors.

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Ben’s coaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that enjoyment drives long-term development. By creating an environment that balances fun with discipline, he encourages players to stay motivated, work hard, and build both technical ability and the mental resilience needed to succeed in the sport.

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Qualifications:

• Foundation Award in Coaching Badminton (Level 1)

• Badminton England Coach Membership

• Badminton England Safeguarding and Protecting Children Qualification

• Enhanced DBS Check

Sajan is one of the country’s top junior badminton players and recently joined the national squad as a full-time athlete in 2026. Competing at a high level, he brings valuable current playing experience into JBA sessions.

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He is passionate about encouraging young players into the sport and is currently developing his coaching skills under the guidance of JBA’s Level 2 coaches and Head Coach Sam Jones. Sajan is working towards undertaking his coaching qualifications in the future.

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Achievements:

• U17 National Doubles Champion

• U17 Austrian Open Doubles Champion

• U19 Cyprus Junior Doubles Runner-Up