Shashwat Dalal, an Indian University of Nottingham masters student, is aiming to break into the world's top 100 in his sport of badminton alongside completing his degree and winning matches for the green and gold. The 2025 BUCS Nationals will be Shashwat's first major challenge representing the university in competition, and we caught up with him ahead of the to find out more about his aims at the tournament, as well as how he's settled into life in Nottingham so far.
Great to meet you Shashwat, it’d be great to learn more about yourself, how you got into your sport, and your journey to playing here at Nottingham?
I am Shashwat Dalal and I am from India. I started playing badminton between the ages of nine and ten – I don’t remember the exact age, but I was quite small! I started playing on the junior circuit in India and gradually started winning matches and tournaments, before competing well at national level. Badminton has definitely become my passion – once I step onto the court, I forget about everything else – I just love to play and compete.
I’ve always also focussed on my studies, scoring well in exams at different stages, and wanted to pursue computer science engineering. I was a student athlete back in India, but at some point, back home you must make the choice between the two. That made me think about how I could continue as a student athlete because I knew I could do it, so I reached out to Martyn Lewis to find out more about Nottingham. After I met the coaches, saw the environment, and understood how the programme helps people become better athletes whilst providing the opportunity to pursue your studies – it was the perfect choice for me, and I moved here in September.
How has your time at the university been so far?
It’s been very busy because I’ve still been playing a lot of international tournaments. I currently have a career best rank of 155 in men’s singles, and just before I started at the university, I played a tournament in Poland. Since I enrolled at Nottingham, I’ve played competitions in eight countries including India, Czech Republic, and Norway so I’ve been travelling a lot recently! However, I’ve managed to start settling in and I’m looking forward to my time here only getting even better.
Have you managed to keep on top of your academics alongside all of these tournaments?
Fortunately, I have, yes. I’ve been managing my schedule alongside academics for a while now, so I am quite used to it. I’m studying a masters in Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Management at the University of Nottingham after completing my undergraduate degree in Computer Science back home. I decided to choose the specific course here because I wanted to explore more business modules to combine with my computer science background. Hopefully I can use everything I learn in the future and apply it to something linked with badminton too! I’m greatly enjoying my course so far – it’s been amazing to be a part of.
Away from studies, how has your badminton been going since you moved here?
It’s been good! I’ve seen a lot of progress, because I was ranked at around 210 in the world before I started here, and obviously that ranking has improved. I’ve improved not only my technical skills, but I’ve also improved my physical abilities. I was slightly injured before I arrived here, but I feel very fit right now. My strength and conditioning coach Anna Nelson and my physiotherapist Laura Sainsbury have really helped to keep fit, prevent injury, and boost recovery, so I am very thankful to them. I feel that I’ve been playing well in my matches for the university so far, and I am looking forward to competing for Nottingham at the upcoming BUCS Nationals.
How have you found integrating into the University of Nottingham badminton programme and how excited are you to compete at BUCS Nationals alongside your teammates?
Being a part of the club has been amazing because the people within the club are so friendly and helpful. My coaches Martyn Lewis, Chris Adcock, and Rajiv Ouseph have all been fantastic – it doesn’t feel like they are my coaches, more so that they are family. The atmosphere within the badminton club is great because everyone is pushing themselves and each other, which really helps to keep everyone motivated during practices and matches.
BUCS Nationals will be my first major competition competing for the university, so I am excited and ready to give it my best. I know a few of my competitors in the men’s singles because there is other world ranked players entered, but my aim is to challenge for the gold medal.
My parents are both still based in India, and I speak with them daily, updating them on what I’ve been doing so they know that I have a big tournament coming up. They will be looking out for my results this weekend for sure! I also have a younger brother, so you never know – he may end up representing the University of Nottingham at a BUCS Nationals in the future too.
Is there anything that you like to do with your time outside of sport and academics?
Whenever I have some spare time, I like to sing and try some dance moves here and there! Who knows – if this weekend goes well, I might have to break out a song and some moves! I think that I am a fun-loving person and try to enjoy my time as much as I can.
What are your aims once you’ve finished your studies here at the University of Nottingham?
I haven’t properly decided what’s next for me after this year, I’m taking it as it comes and assessing my options. However, on the court, the ultimate aim is to make the Olympics in 2028. I need to keep progressing and doing well in ranking tournaments, with the aim of breaking into the top 100 of the world rankings initially.
We thank Shashwat for his time ahead of BUCS Nationals, and look forward to supporting him and his team mates in Sheffield, as well as during the rest of the BUCS season in the run-in to BUCS Big Wednesday. Keep up to date with Shashwat's progress at BUCS Nationals 2025 by following us on social media here, or by checking our dedicated Nationals web page.
You can find out more about our badminton programme here; Performance Badminton, and you can find out more about the sports scholarship programme at the University of Nottingham here; Sports Scholarships at the University of Nottingham.