While still playing, she took coaching courses and has a National Level coaching certificate which enabled her to coach badminton players. In addition to that, she also explored the possibility of being an umpire, where she umpired in several international championships in Portugal. With the vast experiences that she gained as an umpire, she then became a referee. 

Maldonado at Helvetia Cup in 2003

It might sound like an easy journey but do not let this trick you. Maldonado has been to around 50 tournaments between 1993 and 2017 as BEC and BWF Referee or Deputy Referee, both at national and international level. She also participated in multiple umpire courses and with her determined mind, she made these happen while juggling her time between her family and her professional job as a mechanical engineer. 

Maldonado is now the most qualified referee in Portugal. Her persistency and passion for badminton is the key element which made her who she is now – a well-known referee in the world of badminton. 

Her career as a Technical Official in a nutshell

•Started with National Level in 1974 

•BEC Accredited since 1983

•BEC Certificated since 2012

•BWF Accredited since 2016

Maldonado (first from right) at the 52nd Portugese International Championships in 2017

On top of Maldonado´s technical official career, she also contributed in several areas in the Portuguese badminton community. She was a treasurer of the Portuguese Badminton Federation in 1983 and 1984, presenter of several courses of formation of judge/referee in Portugal and Spain, President of the Technical Board of the North Badminton Association from 1990 to 1998 and representative of the Portuguese Referees and Umpires in the Assembly of the Portuguese Badminton Federation from 2010 to 2015. 

´Susana is a multifaceted woman, she took several roles in badminton, contributing as a player, coach, line judge, umpire, deputy referee and referee, being an important element in national and international scope.  We think that she has a strong potential to be the winner of this award looking at her contribution. She is an example for women in badminton, showing that it is possible to have a personal, professional and sportive life well succeed, for a lifetime, ´ stated Sonia Lopes, Director at the Portuguese Badminton Federation.

The shortlisted nominees from the ‘Badminton for Women’ initiative will automatically be the nominees for the 2017 BEC Badminton for Women Award, which will be awarded at the 6th BEC Awards Gala Night in Dubrovnik, Croatia next year. The award winner is decided from the shortlisted nominees by the BEC Award Panel in cooperation with the Women in Badminton Commission.

For more information, visit our Badminton for Women webpage here.