Priyanna Ramdhani excited about making U-17 Pan Am debut

Jul 18, 2017 Sports, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....g-u-17-pan-am-debut/

At 15 Guyana’s Priyanna Ramdhani is a four times medalist (U-11, U-13 & U-15) at the Pan American Junior Championships in Badminton including three gold. The talented teen has also done outstandingly well in her age group at the Caribbean Badminton Championships.
The National Girls and ladies Champion, who started her dominance at the Caribbean level in 2012 when she captured the U-11 Gold in the Dominican Republic, is now excited about making her U-17 debut in this year’s Pan Am games in Canada from July 24-28.
“I am excited about playing in the Pan Am games for the first time as a U-17 player. I have done well at the U-11 to U-15, but this time the competition should be tougher but I am confident of making Guyana proud,” said Priyanna with a glint in her eyes.
In 2013 Priyanna was adjudged as Runner-up Junior Sportswoman of the Year after winning Guyana’s only gold medal when the Suriname International Easter Badminton tournament was played at the Walter Amo Sports Hall in Paramaribo.
Priyanna attends the Marian Academy and is about to enter fifth form and practices every morning before doing physical exercises in the afternoons.
“It’s very hard to find the time to balance academics and Badminton but I try to study especially on weekends since next term at school will be important for me,” said Priyanna.
Selected as a part of a nine member team for the Caribbean Championships which is set for Trinidad from August 9-25, Priyanna is focused on her Badminton career and says her ambition is to play in the 2024 Olympics.
“After I complete High School I hope to get a scholarship for a college in Canada which has a Badminton programme so that I can move forward in the sport,” disclosed Priyanna.
Her 19-year-old brother Narayan is the only internationally ranked Guyanese Badminton player and last year received a scholarship to study and play in Canada.
Priyanna said her father, Gokarn Ramdhani, a certified Coach and former National Badminton player during the 1980s, is her Coach, while her sibling also gives her some tips during her practice sessions. (Sean Devers)