MY JOURNEY TO BADMINTONSKILLS BY CHRIS LANGRIDGE

Badminton has been a massive part of my life for as long as I can remember. From the early days learning to play in my very small school sports hall to standing on the Olympic podium, it’s taken me to places I never imagined. And now, being involved with BadmintonSkills feels like the perfect next chapter.

It’s a chance to help build something I wish I’d had as a junior—a proper resource for players who want to get better but maybe don’t have regular access to top-level coaching. Something real, practical, and rooted in what it actually takes to improve. I started coaching even when i was still competing as I really enjoyed trying to help others, the biggest problem i found was that i just couldnt help everyone. This guided me down the path of realisation that the only way i could help more people was by trying to create a digital platform.

Early days, early obsession

I first started playing around the age of 9. It was all by pure chance that i ever picked up a racket. My school teacher introduced me to badminton as she was the county badminton coach. I had no idea of the rules and i had never heard of the sport before. In a very short period of time i fell in love with badminton. I was very lucky that after only 2 years of picking up a racket i was one of the best in Europe. This was only possible due to a great deal of hard work and sacrifices even at a young age.

By my teens, I was playing national tournaments and had set my sights on being a full-time athlete. I got into the England set-up and just kept climbing. I had my fair share of tough spells—injuries, missed selections, plenty of days where things didn’t click—but I always knew what I was chasing so it helped to keep me focused on the big dream, the end goal – the achieve something that no one else had ever done and win a medal in the mens doubles at the olympic games.

The partnership that changed everything

The defining chapter of my playing career was teaming up with Marcus Ellis. We were different characters, but also very similar in a lot ways. We pushed each other, and we trusted each other. That partnership brought us the bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, and for me personally, that was the pinnacle.

People remember the medals, but what they don’t see is the grind behind the scenes. The training blocks. The video analysis. The endless repetitions of the same drills to get 1% better. That’s what wins you points under pressure.

Why BadmintonSkills?

I’ve always been someone who believes in honest, detailed coaching. No fluff, no generic advice—just real guidance based on what works. That’s exactly what we’re trying to build with BadmintonSkills.

This isn’t about flashy trick shots or chasing views. It’s about movement, shot selection, decision-making, physical preparation—the things that actually make a difference. I want to share what I’ve learned from over 20 years in the game so that other players, whether they’re juniors or veterans, can benefit from it.

We’re building something that brings structure and clarity to how you train. And we’re doing it in a way that fits around real life—so whether you’re on court four times a week or just squeezing in sessions when you can, you’ll find something useful here.

What to expect from me

I’ll be contributing coaching content across the platform—technical drills, tactical breakdowns, movement sessions, mindset pieces. But I’ll also be honest about the challenges. This sport isn’t easy. That’s why it’s so satisfying when you get it right.

If I can help one player feel sharper in their matches, or give a coach a new way to explain something, then it’s been worth it.

Badminton’s been good to me. This is my way of giving something back—and I’m genuinely excited to see where we can take it.

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