THE DREAM TEAM.
Vikkie Primmer - Head Coach Level 3
Vikkie Primmer is one of Berkshire’s leading badminton coaches, combining elite playing experience with over a decade of high-level coaching.
As a junior, she competed at the highest level in England, consistently ranked in the top 10 nationally, winning multiple Badminton England tournaments and competing internationally as part of the England junior pathway. She represented Berkshire at both junior and senior level and is the only female player to have won the Berkshire Senior Restricted title 13 times—an achievement that reflects exceptional standards and consistency over many years.
A UKCC Level 3 qualified coach since 2018—the highest coaching qualification in badminton—Vikkie has spent the past 8 years working at performance level, developing players who compete at county and national standard. Since beginning her coaching career in 2013, she has worked with athletes across the full spectrum, from complete beginners to high-level competitors.
While she specialises in performance development, Vikkie is equally passionate about building strong foundations in younger and beginner players. Her coaching approach combines technical precision, movement quality and tactical understanding with a holistic focus on confidence, enjoyment and long-term development.
She is currently the Head Coach of the Berkshire senior county team and plays an active role within the Berkshire County Badminton Association, while maintaining strong links with Badminton England and local performance pathways.
Vikkie trained as a full-time athlete at the University of Bath while completing her degree in Sport and Social Science, captaining the 1st team and leading them to a BUCS silver medal. This experience in a high-performance environment now underpins her coaching philosophy.
Through VP Badminton Academy, Vikkie delivers a structured, professional and supportive training environment, with a clear pathway from beginner to county level and beyond—ensuring every player is challenged, developed and given the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Saud Agha - UKCC LEvel 2
With over 8 years of elite coaching experience across Pakistan, the UAE, and Australia, Coach Saud brings international pedigree and passion to every session at VP Badminton Academy.
Saud is not only a former national-level player, but also a Gold Medalist at the Asian Youth Games and a multiple-time university champion in both singles and doubles. His coaching journey includes working with top-tier athletes like the Pakistan Atomic Energy Team, and he's the first Pakistani coach invited to join Malaysia’s prestigious Purple League, sponsored by MAXX Sports.
He’s trained in Pro Badminton Academy, Melbourne, where he refined his coaching under Australian national team experts—bringing advanced training techniques and fitness insights to VPBA.
💥 Whether your child is just starting out or aiming high, Saud’s tailored 1-to-1 sessions are a powerful way to boost technique, mindset, and performance.
Book a 1-to-1 session with Coach Saud and unlock your child’s full potential on court.
Holly Ranson - Level 2 Coach
Holly isn't just one of our coaches—she's one of our success stories
Holly has been part of the VP Badminton Academy family since the age of 8, progressing through every stage of our player pathway. Over the past 10 years, she has developed into one of England's top junior badminton players, reaching the Top 10 national rankings and competing successfully at national level.
Alongside her badminton success, Holly has balanced the demands of high-performance sport with her GCSEs and A Levels, demonstrating exceptional commitment, organisation and resilience. She is now preparing to continue both her academic and sporting journey at the University of Warwick, where she hopes to represent the university at the highest level.
Holly's coaching journey has developed naturally alongside her playing career. Having achieved her UKCC Level 2 Coaching qualification, she now assists across a range of VP Badminton Academy sessions and is beginning to lead sessions independently. Her experience of progressing through the academy gives her a unique understanding of the challenges young players face, allowing her to relate to them and inspire them with genuine first-hand experience.
As someone who has grown up within the academy, Holly embodies the values we strive to develop in every player: hard work, humility, resilience and a willingness to support others. She is a fantastic role model for our younger members and is passionate about helping the next generation enjoy badminton and achieve their own goals.
Whether working with beginners taking their first steps on court or supporting aspiring performance players, Holly brings enthusiasm, patience and a genuine love for the sport to every session.
Sharjeel Kiyani
Level 2 Badminton Coach
Sharjeel is a newly qualified Level 2 coach who brings enthusiasm, professionalism and a friendly, welcoming approach to every session. He is passionate about supporting players of all ages and abilities and is committed to helping each player develop and enjoy their badminton.
Sharjeel places great value on continuous professional development, regularly working with fellow coaches to exchange ideas, expand his knowledge and refine his coaching practice. An active member of the badminton community, he supports a range of club and academy sessions and is keen to contribute to the continued growth of VPBA and grassroots badminton.
Frazer Mott - Level 1 Badminton Coach, Fitness Assessment and Exercise Counselling NVQ Level 3, Stress Management NVQ Level 3, FA Level 1 Football Coach
Sport has been my life since a child. Badminton and football were played at school, club and county level into my teens. I started my assistant badminton coaching with children classes in local council run sports centres, when I was only 16years old. It was at this time I moved from a junior club to an adult club and played league Badminton for 2 years.
University Team Badminton in London whilst studying for my Fitness and Health Degree BSc Hons was my next move. This was followed by, what feels like 5 minutes, 20 years involving a mixture of Club Badminton in Bordeaux and Cheltenham. I worked in the wine trade for 20yrs and coupled that with a life of sport and fitness. I am a fully qualified Fitness and Exercise Trainer and run Fitness sessions across Berkshire and Oxfordshire on a full time basis. It means that I am full time coaching and training individuals to be the best version of themselves, to stay fit and enjoy exercise. I am also a qualified FA Football Coach and have run fitness sessions for the teams as part of their weekly training.
Being a father I’ve spent many a summer holiday ‘training’ my son (who refuses to lose) at the finer points of badminton and that brought me to the point where, like many of you, I searched for a coach to take my son to the next level. This is where I met Vikki. My son loves his Tuesday evening session at Rivermead (still hates losing) and I am privileged to have the opportunity to bring that experience from my past coaching and playing to the youngsters of today. They are a great group!
Their enjoyment and learning is of equal importance to me as the assistant coach and any parents are welcome to say hello and check in with the progress of their child at anytime.
When not coaching your children I can be found swimming, cycling, running and weight training for my next Triathlon!
Nice to meet you
Frazer
Ilaya
Level 1 Badminton Coach
Ilaya is a qualified Badminton England Level 1 coach who is currently working towards his Level 2 qualification. With more than 15 years of playing experience, his passion for badminton has inspired him to help others develop their skills and enjoy the sport.
He enjoys working with players of all ages and abilities, from complete beginners to those developing their technique and match play. Ilaya creates a positive and supportive environment where players can build confidence, progress towards their goals and have fun on court. He finds it especially rewarding to see players grow in confidence and is excited to support them throughout their badminton journey.
Saleem Khan - Level 2 Coach
Hi, I am Saleem. I’ve been involved with Badminton for more than 30 years, and during that time I’ve competed, coached, and been coached, in several different parts of the world including Ireland, Canada, and the US. Over this time I’ve developed my own approach to the coaching of Badminton which I call Pareto coaching, as it is heavily influenced by ideas first expressed by the 19th century Italian Economist and Philosopher Vilfredo Pareto.
I specialise in Tactical coaching and especially enjoy playing Mixed doubles, which I still play at the Inter County Masters level where I have represented both Middlesex and Berkshire.