Today's Edition
DUBAI (ALETIHAD)
UAE's Jamal Al Bedwawi brought cheers to local fans after making a winning start in his men's singles Wheelchair (WH1) event at the sixth Fazza Dubai Para Badminton International.
In men's singles WH1 Group B, Bedwawi defeated Czech Republic's Milos Bauer in two contrasting games 21-18, 21-2 continuing his good form from last month's Czech Para Badminton International.
The Emirati player next faces second seed and Paris 2024 Paralympics silver medallist Choi Jungman in the third round of men's singles WH1. "I wasn't thinking about the win but about fighting for every point. Every win makes me more confident and the medal at Czech Republic made me more responsible to win medals for UAE," said the 26-year-old trainee at the Dubai Club for People of Determination.
Bedwawi, who is competing in all three events at the championships, admitted that he has always been a fighter. Ever since he met with an accident in 2012, Bedwawi has fought back his spinal cord injury to take up wheelchair basketball and now Para Badminton as the biggest achievements in life. "I will fight tomorrow as well. It will be a good learning experience against him [Choi Jungman]," he said of his upcoming match against the Korean giant.
Meanwhile, title favourites Cheah Liek Hou of Malaysia, Hong Kong's Chu Man Kai, and the Koreans Kim Jung-jun and Jungman all were in action on the second day of competitions.
