Mahdi Ahmadi of The King’s University Eagles has been named the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Male Badminton Player of the Year.

He was bestowed this honour at the 2024 CCAA Badminton National Championships on March 6th, hosted by Seneca Polytechnic in King City, ON.

Being named both Men’s Player of the Year and Men’s Rookie of the Year in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference ACAC, Mahdi achieved this honour in his first year as an athlete.

Andrew Harding CCAA convenor said, “Mahdi has been a force this season in ACAC badminton, setting the pace for the conference and leading his team in multiple categories. I’m excited to see Mahdi put his skills to the test against the CCAA’s best at the upcoming National Championship.”

On and off the court, Mahdi’s commitment to excellence is evident with his outstanding GPA and he consistently goes above and beyond to seek opportunities for improvement during practice. His on-court presence is marked by exceptional stamina, confidence, and strategic intelligence, allowing him to dominate the game and adapt effectively against any opponent.

Mahdi brought invaluable experience from competing in high-level tournaments in Iran and Vancouver. His achievements include national team training in Iran and recognition as the best under-23 badminton player in BC for Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles in 2023. Since arriving in August 2023 in Edmonton, Mahdi's commitment to badminton is underscored by his role as a coach at B-Active Badminton Club in Edmonton.

“The King’s University and its badminton program express immense pride in Mahdi’s accomplishments this year, recognizing that this is just the beginning of his promising journey,” said Todd Van Driel, The King’s University Athletics & Recreation Coordinator.

Mahdi, in his first CCAA championship appearance, will be competing this week in Mixed Doubles with his partner Khushi Vaniya. Adding to the excitement, The King's University is set to host the CCAA national championship in 2025, making Mahdi, as a rookie, one to watch in the upcoming years.

The CCAA Men’s Badminton Player of the Year receives a customized ring provided by Jostens Canada, the Official Ring Supplier of the CCAA.

2024 CCAA Men's Badminton All-Canadians

MAHDI AHMADI

TIMOTHY LOCKS

THOMAS ASHTON