India Club wants official body to promote badminton in UAE

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Last year over 600 players participated in the tournament.

    Organisers of the India Club UAE Badminton Open have called on Emirati sports officials to form a badminton federation in order to help boost the sport at the grassroots level.

    With the 38th edition of the tournament set to kick off on May 18 at the India Club in Dubai, the people behind the event believe there has been a significant rise in interest in badminton in the UAE and that establishing a BWF-affiliated federation is the next step to move the sport forward here.

    “We’ve been ardently and passionately trying to request the Dubai Sports Council that a federation has to be formed. And people like us are making a unified plea that a federation is formed. 

    “That body can work at the grassroots level – from schools to higher up. I think entrepreneurs like us are willing to contribute and help point the sport in the right direction,” said Dr Shafi Ul Mulk, the director of Global Hawk Imaging & Diagnostics LLC, presenting sponsors of the Open.

    Last year’s edition attracted 600 players, half of who were UAE residents.

    More are expected to sign up for next month’s event, which will feature 26 categories, 50 per cent of which will be dedicated to children.

    “We really want to promote badminton amongst youngsters,” said Wales Thomas, a member of the tournament organising committee. 

    “We hope to uncover future champions in the UAE. We’ve added a category for Under-18 Mixed Doubles because we want to bring out the children. 

    “We’re seeing more and more how the younger players are playing at a very high level, just like in the men’s categories.”

    Players from countries like Jordan, Oman, India, Malaysia and more will be coming to Dubai for the event, which will include a Super Series tournament for men’s singles and men’s doubles.

    The Super Series category will pit the winners and runners-up from the UAE Open against eight professionally ranked players, who have been invited from India and Malaysia to take part.

    The invited pros include 2003 All-England Champion Muhammad Hafiz bin Hashim and 2006 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Anup Sridhar.

    “We know that badminton is becoming very popular in the UAE. There are a lot of training academies opening up and the fact that the BWF World Super Series Finals are being held here for four years is making the sport even more popular,” said Dinesh Nair, another member of the organising committee. 

    “The reason we’ve added a Super Series category this year is to promote promising upcomers.”

    The 38th India Club UAE Badminton Open will conclude with the Super Series event to be held from June 7-12. 

    The deadline for signing up for the tournament is Sunday, May 10. Entry forms are available on www.indiaclubdubai.com.

    Recommended