Beijing 2008 Olympics Team USA Member

Birthday: February 3, 1983
Birthday: 2/3/1983
Event: Men's Singles
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 152 lbs.
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Current Residence: Anaheim, CA
Coaches: Tony Gunawan
Dominant Hand: Right

Coaching Experience:
· Head Coach of Bellevue Badminton Club (2008-Present)
· Assistant and Private Coach for Orange County Badminton Club (2004-2008)
· US Badminton Development Foundation Head/Assistant Coach (2003-2008)
· Villa Park High School Assistant Coach (2004-2006)
· Vice President /Head Coach

Background
Raju started playing badminton at the age of 5. He has been playing for the past 20 years now, moving up from the top junior level to becoming one of the best players in the United States. He has been on the US National Team from 1999-2008, 5 time US National Champion, and recently achieved his dream by
qualifying for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. He states, "Badminton has always been my first love. It has taught me so much about life and myself. I would like to thank everyone for all your support throughout my career and I look forward to returning it to the future of badminton in the US."

Accomplishments:
· 2008 Beijing Olympic Team Member
· BWF World Training Center Team Member
· 4-time US National Singles Champion (2004-2006, 2008)
· 2-time US National Mixed Doubles Champion (2003 & 2004)
· US National Team Member (1999-2008)
· Ken Davidson Sportsmanship Award Winner (Junior-2000, Adult-2008)
· USOC & USAB Athlete of the Year (2003-2005)

Rai made it to the Beijing Olympics after being awarded entry as one of the top 38 seeded players qualifying for the games in Beijing. This makes Rai the only representative from the USA in the Men's badminton singles this Olympics, although others are representing USA in doubles events. The lad who stands 5' 11"and 152 lbs. is a specialist in the Men's Singles at the Beijing Olympics. After impressive 2006 results with the gold medal at the Boston Open in the Men's Singles, and a member of the Thomas Cup Team Member and also U.S. National Championships. Men's Singles, Gold Medal, Rai while training as a World Training Center Team Member (Saarbrucken, Germany) in 2006, suffered a knee injury but rebounded in 2007 with good results when as U.S. Open, Men's Doubles member with Tony Gunawan, he captured a Bronze medal. Rai has also performed consistently at the international level with the 2005 Pan American Championships Men's Doubles Gold Medal and the Men's Singles Bronze Medal and the Team Championships Silver Medal. Also, Rai has been a U.S. National Championships: Men's Singles, Gold Medalist and a World Championship Team Member this year and this has got him the nod as the Team USA member at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

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