Core Committee

We are currently looking for officers for the Fall 2026 semester! If you are interested in being a core part of UABC, please talk to Shalan Wu (club president) or email the club (uabadminton@gmail.com).

*We highly reccommend a half to a whole semester of officer shadowing before you fully dedicate yourself to the role. This will allow you to get a better grasp of officer expectations and tournament season time committment. Thank you!

President: Shalan Wu (she/her)

Shalan is a third year undergraduate majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology. She has been playing badminton for 1 year. In her free time, she likes to draw, play video games with friends, and play piano.

Vice President: Richard Peng (he/him)

Richard is a first year Optical Sciences and Engineering masters student with a minor in Math. He has been playing badminton for 1 year. His hobbies include photography and bird watching.

Treasurer: Laila Garro (she/her)

Laila is a fourth year undergraduate majoring in Medicine. She has been playing badminton for about 6 months. Laila’s hobbies include going to the gym, drawing, and reading.

Student Club Advisor: Jasmine Meredith (she/her)

Jasmine is a first year accelerated master’s student majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology (with an emphasis in genetics), with minors in Flute Performance, French, and Sociology. She has played badminton on-and-off for about 10 years. Her hobbies include playing piano, going to art museums, and photography.

Head Coach: Rob Waters (he/him)

Rob Waters has been involved in coaching since 1992. He first coached at Tucson Parks & Recreation for ten years, and at the U of A Rec Center from 1994-2015 as well. He has played in several major tournaments around the US including the National Senior Olympics and the US Masters. His desire is to teach all he knows to a younger generation of eager badminton players.

Assistant Coach: Ramesh Bondalapati (he/him)

Ramesh Bondalpati has been a member of the club for the past 17 years. He has 37 years of experience in the sport and he also worked with YONEX as a advisory staff member for 6 years. Ramesh has played national and international tournaments and won various medals. He has been giving individual and group Badminton lessons in Tucson for the last 16 years.

Assistant Coach: Lin Zhang (she/her)

Lin Zhang has been a member of AZBC for about nine years, the same amount of years she has played badminton for. What amazes her is how the sport brings together players of all skill levels to enjoy the game. Additionally, she is committed to promoting the growth of badminton in Tucson and Southern Arizona.

“When I was a beginner, I received guidance, encouragement, and support from many experienced players in the club, and I deeply appreciate being part of such a wonderful community. Now, with years of badminton training and tournament experience, I am excited to give back by sharing my knowledge, especially to inspire young female players to pursue badminton with confidence and enthusiasm.”

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Cholik Chan (he/him)

Dr. Chan is a Professor of the Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department in his 36th year. Outside of badminton, Dr. Chan enjoys being active in hiking and bike riding.