Former USA #1 is new Coach at SPBA!

Introducing Jimmy Pohan
Former #1 Ranked Men’s Singles Player in the United States


We are very excited to introduce all of our students to our new High Performance Coach!

Jimmy is originally from Indonesia, where badminton is the national sport. As an 11 year old, he left his family to go train full time in badminton while going to school.  At age 16, he lived with the Indonesian National Team and medaled at several Jr. international tournaments in Asia including winning gold at the Asian Junior Continental Championships in boys singles. He placed 2nd in men’s doubles and 3rd in men’s singles at the Indonesian National Team Trials.

He has represented Indonesia, Switzerland, and the United States in international competitions including winning two international titles, one in men’s singles and one in men’s doubles. He also represented the United States in the Sudirman Cup (the World Mixed Team Championships) with his men’s doubles partner Halim Haryanto (former World Champion in Men’s Doubles, also from Indonesia) (see photo below). Between 2001 and 2003 he won a string of national tournaments across the country, including the Boston Open where he beat two National Champions and the 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist on his way to earning the title. Jimmy was formerly the #1 ranked men’s singles player in the United States.

Jimmy comes to the SPBA after coaching over 8 years at two of the most prestigious clubs in the country in Northern California. In California he coached all levels of players, from beginners playing badminton for the first time, to players on the international tour. He has a passion for teaching and learning his craft, and as he puts it, “I expect my students to be a student of the sport and keep learning and I expect the same of myself”  Badminton is quite simply in his blood. And the results of his students speak for themselves.

Photo Credit: Badmintonphoto
USA #1 Jimmy Pohan and World Champion Halim Haryanto
representing the United States at the 2013  Sudirman Cup

Here are a few highlights:

• Gold Medal at the Junior Pan American Championships (That is the championship of North and South America) in Under 11 Boys Doubles (2013)

• Gold and Silver Medal at the Junior Pan American Championships (That is the championship of North and South America) in Under 11 Mixed Doubles (2013)

• Bronze Medal at the United States Junior Nationals in Under 17 Girls Singles and Doubles (2019)

• Silver Medal at the United States Junior International Trials (JIT) in U19 Mixed Doubles (2019)

• Qualified a student for the World Junior Championships in U19 Mixed Doubles (2019)

• Triple Crown Winner (Gold Medal in all 3 events ) at the SPBA Midwest Open Regionals (U17 Boys Singles, Boys Doubles, and Mixed Doubles) (2019)

• Coaches an international player who is currently top 200 in the world in women’s singles (2021)

Jimmy will be joining us for the start of the Summer session, on June 13th and he is very excited to coach all of you! 

Jimmy Pohan, Former #1 Ranked
Men’s Singles Player in USA