Shrikant Vad
 Shrikant Vad | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Born | October 10, 1956 Thane, Maharashtra, India |
| Education | University of Mumbai (B.Pharm, LL.B.) NIS Patiala (Coaching Certification) |
| Spouse(s) | Manjiri Vad |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Badminton |
| Now coaching | Syed Modi Badminton Academy, Thane |
Shrikant Sharadchandra Vad (born 10 October 1956) is a prominent Indian badminton coach and sports administrator from Thane, Maharashtra. He is recognized as a pioneering figure in the decentralized development of badminton in Maharashtra[1] and was the first Badminton World Federation (BWF) certified coach from India. He is the founder of the Syed Modi Badminton Training Academy in Thane and has served in various top administrative roles, including Honorary General Secretary of the Maharashtra Badminton Association (MBA).
Over a coaching career spanning more than three decades, Vad has trained over 25 international players and multiple national champions, with a noted emphasis on supporting underprivileged athletes and para-badminton stars. He has nurtured 13 recipients of the Shiv Chhatrapati Award[2], the highest sports honor awarded by the Government of Maharashtra.
Early life and education
Shrikant Vad was born and raised in Thane, Maharashtra. He holds a diversified academic background, completing degrees in both Pharmacy (1977) and Law (1985) from the University of Mumbai. His legal background later aided his contributions to drafting state sports policies. Before transitioning into professional sports coaching full-time in his early 30s, Vad worked in an executive position at the pharmaceutical multinational corporation Johnson & Johnson.
In 1988, he completed his formal badminton coaching certification at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Patiala, securing the first rank with a Grade A qualification. He later completed a post-graduate diploma in sports science and nutrition (1989–1990).
Vad expanded his qualifications internationally by attending the Badminton Advance Coaching Course in Hong Kong (1993), the Asian Coaching Seminar in Kuala Lumpur (2000), and achieving the Asian Badminton Confederation Level 1 coaching certification in Kuala Lumpur (2002). In 2003, he completed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Sports Administration Course under the Olympic Solidarity programme in Pune.
Coaching career and the "Thane Model"
In 1988, Vad established the Syed Modi Badminton Training Academy at the Dadoji Konddev Stadium in Thane. At the time, Thane lacked a prominent standing on the national badminton map. To inspire local youth, Vad invited Indian badminton legends, including Prakash Padukone and U. Vimal Kumar, to play exhibition matches in the city. Under his guidance, Thane emerged as a premier national hub for the sport, earning the colloquial moniker "The China of Maharashtra in badminton"[3] due to its high volume of elite player production.
Vad pioneered the "Thane Model," an inclusive coaching system focused heavily on grassroots and social development. Over 38 years, he provided free training, equipment, and residential accommodation to approximately 500 economically underprivileged students. Under the Kreeda Prabodhini project of the Government of Maharashtra, he scouted talent from Adivasi (tribal) and mofussil (rural) areas to integrate them into mainstream competitive badminton. Notable international and national champions mentored under his guidance include Akshay Dewalkar and Subhankar Dey[4], both of whom resided under Vad’s care during their development years.
Vad is also an advocate for para-badminton, coaching world-class athletes with disabilities, including former World No. 2 Girish Sharma and international player Arati Patil.
In 2021, Vad served as the official technical coach and consultant for the Bollywood biographical sports film Saina (based on the life of Saina Nehwal). He spent months training lead actress Parineeti Chopra to replicate authentic professional footwork, racket skills, and court movements.[5]
In recognition of his lifetime dedication to the sport, the Government of Maharashtra honored him with the prestigious Shiv Chhatrapati State Sports Award (Jivan Gaurav / Lifetime Achievement Award) in 2023. Beyond coaching, he frequently shares his expert analysis on global sports platforms, evaluating critical milestones in Indian badminton, such as PV Sindhu's historic World Championship victories.
International administrative and training courses
On behalf of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and the Olympic Solidarity programme, Vad was responsible for conducting administrative and coaching courses across several nations:
| Year | Course/Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Olympic Solidarity Course | Vientiane, Laos |
| 2006 | Olympic Solidarity Course | Da Nang, Vietnam |
| 2006 | Olympic Solidarity Course | Tehran, Iran |
| 2007 | Olympic Solidarity Course | Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia |
| 2008 | Olympic Solidarity Course | Cairo, Egypt |
| 2008 | Olympic Solidarity Course | Yangon, Myanmar |
| 2016 | Badminton Asia Performance Summit | Bangkok, Thailand[6] |
| 2018 | BWF Coaching Conference | Toronto, Canada[7] |
Awards and recognition
Vad has coached more than 100 international medalists and national champions, alongside over 500 state champions. He has received numerous civic, state, and institutional honors:
| Year | Award | Conferred by | Category / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–2004 | Dadoji Konddev Award | Government of Maharashtra | Best Coach / Mentor Recognition |
| 2005 | Thane Manbindu Award | Indradhanu | Contribution to local community |
| 2006 | Thane Gaurav Award | Thane Municipal Corporation | Contribution to Sports and City Pride |
| 2006 | Thane Nagar Ratna Award | Thane Nagar Manch | Civic excellence |
| 2010 | Ratnasaurabh Award | Doordarshan Sahyadri Channel | Outstanding contribution in the field of sports |
| 2011 | Samaj Shakti Award | Mumbai Institution | Social Impact and Community Service |
| 2016 | Karmabhumi Sevaratna Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar | Dombivli Foundation | Lifetime Dedicated Service and Contribution |
| 2019–2020 | Shiv Chhatrapati Jeevan Gaurav Award | Government of Maharashtra | Lifetime Achievement Award in Sports (Presented in 2023) |
| 2022 | Income Tax Department Commendation | Income Tax Department, Pune | Outstanding performance and national pride |
| 2025 | Swachhata Doot Award | Thane Municipal Corporation | Social Responsibility and Civic Contribution |
See also
References
- ↑ वृत्तसेवा, सकाळ (2023-01-02). "Badminton: महाराष्ट्रात बॅडमिंटनचा प्रसार करायचाय!". Marathi News Esakal (in मराठी). Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- ↑ team, abp majha web (2023-07-15). "Shrikant Wad : श्रीकांत वाड यांना शिवछत्रपती राज्य क्रीडा पुरस्कार, गिरीश महाजनांची घोषणा ABP Majha". ABP Majha (in मराठी). Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- ↑ "Thane: China of Maharashtra". Suhas Naye. Jul 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Two Thaneites to represent country at Junior Asian Badminton Championship". Nasser Lalljee. Jun 12, 2011.
- ↑ "Thane Coach who Trained Parineeti Chopra for Saina Nehwal's Biopic is a Real-Life Hero". Gopi Karelia. 22 Mar 2021.
- ↑ "BAI nominates word for Badminton coach sumimi in Bangkok". Suhas Naye. 5 October 2016.
- ↑ "Shrikant Vad to attend BWF coaches' conference in Canada". Suhas Nayse. 21 October 2018.
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