Some of the world’s best badminton players showed off their skills at Dubai Sports World to mark the launch of Shuttle Time Dubai, the BWF’s grassroots initiative that forms part of the emirate’s recent four-year partnership with the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
Led by Dubai Sports Council and facilitated by Falcon and Associates, Shuttle Time Dubai aims to promote badminton as a fun and social way of being active, regardless of age, ability and fitness level.
Initially targeting 40 schools, Shuttle Time Dubai will train more than 80 teachers on how to deliver safe and enjoyable badminton lessons to cater to more than 3,000 male and female students in Dubai between the ages of 8 and 16.
Schools will be supplied with all required equipment, including rackets, nets, suggested lesson plans and interactive learning material.
Dr Ahmad Al Sharif, Secretary-General of Dubai Sports Council, commented on the launch, saying: “Shuttle Time Dubai underlines our ongoing commitment to engage with the local community and to promote sport at a grassroots level.
"The programme has already enjoyed immense success in over 65 countries across the world and is a pathway to develop promising young athletes into world-class competitors who participate at international events, including World Championships and the Olympic Games.”
BWF Secretary General Thomas Lund, who led a delegation from the international federation to the launch, added: “Everyone is understandably excited about the BWF Destination Dubai World Superseries Finals coming here in December, but Shuttle Time is a key feature of this partnership with Dubai Sports Council.
"It’s the platform through which we can really grow badminton in Dubai and galvanise interest in and passion for the sport.
The visiting players gave the more than 600 fans in attendance a demonstration of the level of skill it takes to be the best in the world and featured incredible drills and training sessions.
Fans were also given the opportunity to have their picture taken with P.V. Sindhu (India), Kenichi Tago (Japan), Pi Hongyan (France), Mohammed Ahsan (Indonesia) and Hendra Setiawan (Indonesia).
P.V. Sindhu, the first Indian woman to win a singles medal in the World Championships in 2013, said: “In order to become a world-class player it is critical to have a good grassroots scene to help a child develop the necessary skills.
"It’s great to be a part of the launch and I hope to return to Dubai for the BWF Destination Dubai World Superseries Finals in December to give a good performance and to see how the programme has developed.”
