Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI )
Fresh after creating history for the nation, Emirati para shuttler Jamal Al Bedwawi is leading a hopeful hosts' contingent at the sixth Fazza Dubai Para Badminton International, which kicked off at the Shabab Al Ahli club on Tuesday. Thrilling action is expected over the next few days as 150 shuttlers from 30 nations will be in action at the championships that run until May 11.
Al Bedwawi is coming on the back of clinching UAE’s first-ever international medal in para badminton with a bronze medal in the Czech Republic last month. A trainee at the Dubai Club for People of Determination, Al Bedwawi is hoping to continue the same momentum at home, where he will be competing in all three events – men’s singles WH1, men’s doubles WH1-WH2 and mixed doubles WH1-WH2.
If a dollop of extra motivation was needed, Al Bedwawi has that too, as he features in a sleek promotional video made by the organisers for the tournament, in which Al Bedwawi plays a few shots on an airstrip in Dubai before undertaking a skydiving adventure.
The hopes of the 26-year-old will be sky high, who understands the spotlight will be on him and has a responsibility to win a medal for the nation. Al Bedwawi, who has been playing the sport for the past three years and has also participated at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games, said, “I’m more confident now – I feel I am responsible to win a gold medal for the nation.”
For the Emirati, who sustained a spinal cord injury and damaged nerve following an accident in 2012, badminton means “freedom, power to achieve his long-cherished goals.
“My personal goals will be to improve my world ranking and more medals winning show,” added the ever-smiling player, who is also a key member of the UAE national wheelchair basketball team.
He will be joined by his training partners Siham Al Rasheedy (women’s singles WH2) and event debutant Omair Mohammed (men’s singles WH1) – both of whom will be pairing up with Al Bedwawi for the mixed doubles and men’s doubles event.
The UAE team will also have a representative in the men’s SU5 category with Sinan Asif set to compete in three events.
The UAE team has been coached by Aditya Singh for the last two years, with long-term goals set on the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics. “The team is gelling well and making rapid improvements. Playing more international events will help the players grow mentally and physically,” said Singh.
Top para shuttlers in the world, including Paralympic and Asian Para Games stars, will be taking part. Malaysia’s Paris 2024 Games champion Cheah Liek Hou (SU5) will lead the star-studded field, which will also include Paralympic and Asian Para Games medallists from South Korea, India and Hong Kong, among others.
South Korea will be spearheaded by seasoned wheelchair shuttlers and Paris 2024 silver medallist Choi Jungman (men’s WH1) and Kim Jungjun (men’s WH2), a bronze medallist in Paris.
Meanwhile, India has the largest contingent of 28 members and will bank on their Tokyo 2020 Paralympic champion Krishna Nagar (men’s SH6) and Asian Para Games medallist Sukant Kadam (men’s SL4), Mandeep Kaur (women’s SL3), among others.
For Hong Kong, Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games gold medallist Chu Man Kai returns to the Emirate of Dubai for the sixth time.
