# Ashwathi Pillai > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ashwathi_Pillai > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ashwathi_Pillai.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashwathi_Pillai > Source revision: 1341842051 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Swedish badminton player Ashwathi Pillai Pillai at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics Personal information Born Ashwathi Vinodh Pillai (2000-07-14) 14 July 2000 (age 25)[1] village near Thuckalay, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India[2] Height 172 cm (5 ft 8 in) Weight 63 kg (139 lb) Sport Country Sweden Sport Badminton Handedness Right Coached by Rio Willianto[1] Women's singles & doubles Highest ranking 215 (WS 10 May 2018) 400 (WD 5 July 2018) BWF profile Medal record Women's badminton Representing Mixed-NOCs Youth Olympic Games 2018 Buenos Aires Mixed team **Ashwathi Vinodh Pillai** (born 14 July 2000) is a Swedish professional [badminton](/source/Badminton) player. She has participated in several national and international tournaments across Europe, and was part of the Alpha team which won the gold medal at the [2018 Summer Youth Olympics](/source/Badminton_at_the_2018_Summer_Youth_Olympics).[1] ## Early life Pillai was born to Gayathri and Vinod Pillai. She hails from a village near Thucklay in [Kanyakumari](/source/Kanyakumari_district), [Tamil Nadu](/source/Tamil_Nadu), India.[3] She has one sibling, a brother.[4] She studied at the National Public School, Bangalore, until class 4.[5] She was intrigued by [badminton](/source/Badminton) during her childhood as she watched her father play along with his friends.[4] In 2009, the Pillai family moved to Sweden owing to her father's professional requirements. While in Sweden, she continued her schooling at [Internationella Engelska Skolan](/source/Internationella_Engelska_Skolan).[6] In her class 12, she studied math and biology.[4] She takes inspiration from [Carolina Marín](/source/Carolina_Mar%C3%ADn), and is reported to admire actress [Deepika Padukone](/source/Deepika_Padukone).[6] ## Career Pillai started playing badminton at the age of seven. After moving to Sweden, she did not want to stop training. She entered the [Täby](/source/T%C3%A4by) badminton club under the coach Rio Willianto and joined the national training centre in [Uppsala](/source/Uppsala) under the coach [Anders Kristiansen](/source/Anders_Kristiansen_(badminton)).[3] She is coached by [Prakash Padukone](/source/Prakash_Padukone) at his academy in Bengaluru, India, for three weeks every year, and trained by [Vimal Kumar](/source/U._Vimal_Kumar) and Yousaf Johari.[5] She trains for at least three and a half hours a day, including training by physical trainers from [Swedish National Sports Federation](/source/Swedish_Sports_Confederation).[3] Pillai participated in several national and international tournaments such as European 8 Nations, Danish Junior International, Glasgow International Junior Championship, and Finnkampen in Helsinki. Later, Pillai was given admission into the National Sports Gymnasium for playing badminton.[6] Pillai's achievements at national and international tournaments is as follows: - 2015 – Swedish national champion in U-15 category[3] - 2015 – Winner in singles at Swiss Junior Open[3] - 2016 – Runner-up in singles at Polish Junior International Championship[3] - 2017 – Made to quarterfinals of Bulgaria Open[3] - 2018 – Youngest-ever winner of the Swedish Senior National Championship (age 18)[3] - Youngest qualifier for the Swedish Elite class tournaments[6] ## Awards and recognition Pillai received the Prestigious Player of the Year award (Girls Junior) 2012–2013 in Stockholm with prize money.[6] She also received a Bengt Erik Hoijers stipend for 2013 with prize money.[6] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:ba_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:ba_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:ba_1-2) ["Badminton Athlete Profile: PILLAI Ashwathi – Juegos Olímpicos de la Juventud de Buenos Aires 2018"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190126164946/https://www.buenosaires2018.com/results/en/badminton/athlete-profile-n1020911-pillai-ashwathi.htm?lng=en). *Buenos Aires 2018*. Archived from [the original](https://www.buenosaires2018.com/results/en/badminton/athlete-profile-n1020911-pillai-ashwathi.htm?lng=en) on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-:ie_2-0)** ["Despite tasting Swede success, Ashwathi's heart remains in India"](https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/other/2018/oct/23/despite-tasting-swede-success-ashwathis-heart-remains-in-india-1888772.html). *The New Indian Express*. Retrieved 27 January 2019. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:NIE_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:NIE_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:NIE_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:NIE_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:NIE_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-:NIE_3-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-:NIE_3-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-:NIE_3-7) ["Kerala girl Ashwathi Pillai shoulders Swedish badminton hopes"](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2018/oct/07/kerala-girl-ashwathi-pillai-shoulders-swedish-badminton-hopes-1882303.html). *The New Indian Express*. Retrieved 26 January 2019. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:TIO_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:TIO_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:TIO_4-2) ["Ashwathi Pillai: Playing in India in front of my people is one of my biggest goals"](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/ashwathi-pillai-playing-in-india-in-front-of-my-people-is-one-of-my-biggest-goals/articleshow/66376681.cms). *The Times of India*. Retrieved 16 January 2019. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:NM_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:NM_5-1) ["First Indian to play for Sweden in Youth Olympics"](https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/17-yr-old-india-born-shuttler-ashwathi-pillai-represent-sweden-youth-olympics-83458). *The News Minute*. Retrieved 16 January 2019. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:2_6-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:2_6-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:2_6-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-:2_6-5) ["Ashwathi Pillai – Chasing My Dream"](https://searchindie.com/blogs/ashwathi-pillai-chasing-my-dream/). Search Indie. Retrieved 26 January 2019. ## External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Ashwathi Pillai](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Ashwathi_Pillai). - [Ashwathi Pillai](https://bwfbadminton.com/player/81068) at [BWFBadminton.com](/source/Badminton_World_Federation) - [Ashwathi Pillai](https://web.archive.org/web/1/https://bwf.tournamentsoftware.com/player-profile/E90141E6-695C-4C1B-87F3-D4BB705B95C1) at [BWF.TournamentSoftware.com](/source/Badminton_World_Federation) (archived) - [Ashwathi Pillai](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/2505982) at [Olympedia](/source/Olympedia) - [Ashwathi Pillai](https://intersportstats.com/athletes/3000349519) at InterSportStats --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ashwathi Pillai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashwathi_Pillai) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashwathi_Pillai?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.