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Grow Together
Badminton is better with a community behind you. We teach, encourage and help each other improve.
About us
Academy Mission
We exist to help players grow through badminton, on court and as part of a community that lifts each other up.
Who We Are
Overdrive Badminton Academy is a new coaching academy in Melbourne’s Eastern Suburbs, founded by Otto, a 9-time Australian National Junior Champion and Oceania Championships Silver Medallist.
Otto was a promising talent from the start, but somewhere along the way he realised badminton is about more than hitting the shuttle well. It’s about the people around you, the community you become part of, and helping each other grow. He’s also learned that his wins and his losses have shaped him equally. That’s how he coaches. Whether you’re picking up a racquet for the first time or preparing for a tournament, sessions cover footwork, stroke technique, tactics and match play, with a long-term view of your development.
Our team
Meet the team
Meet Our Head Coach: Otto Zhao
Overdrive Badminton Academy is proud to introduce Otto Zhao as our Head Coach.
Otto brings a rare combination of elite playing experience, leadership and passion for developing the next generation of badminton players.
His achievements include:
- 🏆 9× Australian National Junior Champion
- 🇦🇺 Australian National Team Player
- 🥈 Oceania Individual Championships Silver Medallist
- 🌏 World Junior Championships Representative
- 🏸 Oceania Championships Team Champion
- 🎓 World University Games Representative — Top 10
- 🏅 AGSV Champion & Team Captain
- 🎓 Camberwell Grammar Team Captain
- 🏆 Monash University National Champion
- 🏸 Monash University Team Captain
At Overdrive, Otto will be coaching players of all skill levels — from beginners learning the foundations, to competitive players looking to improve technique, movement and match performance.
Meet Our Assistant Head Coach: Ryan Venpin
Ryan Venpin is the Co-Founder and Assistant Head Coach at OBA. Having played badminton since the age of 6, he came through the junior ranks to represent Australia and win an international title, so he knows what it takes to develop as a player.
He’s passionate about guiding the next generation, whether they're picking up a racquet for the first time or chasing their own competitive goals.
Notable achievements include:
- 6× Australian National Junior Champion
- Australian Junior International mixed doubles champion
- Oceania Junior Championships mixed doubles bronze medallist
- BWF World Junior Championships and Oceania Junior Championships Australian representative
- Career-high national ranking: #9 men's doubles
- Career-high national ranking: #19 men's singles
- Career-high national ranking: #28 mixed doubles
- 5× Victorian Junior State Titles
- 3× University of Melbourne representative at Uni Nationals (2022 Half Blue Award winner)
Ryan has been coaching since 2020 at Caulfield Grammar School and top Victorian badminton clubs, and also offers private coaching.
At Overdrive, he draws on his playing and coaching experience to help players of all ages and levels reach their potential.
Kylie
Kylie has grown OBA Badminton from pre-opening to 100+ regular students. By nurturing real student-parent relationships and bringing creative ideas to the business, she has built a place where families feel welcome and players thrive.
Our values
The Three Core Values
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Learn from Every Result
Wins and losses both count. Each match shows you something worth working on.
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Commit with Purpose
Choosing a sport is a decision for parent and player to make together. Time on court is an investment in physical and mental health.
Your badminton journey starts here
Meet our team and get in touch to find the right coaching path for you.