UAE shuttlers steal the show at Spanish International U19 Championship
In a sensational display of skills and determination, the UAE Junior Badminton Team etched their name in history books by securing gold and silver medals in both men's and women's singles at the Spanish International U19 Championship, which concluded on Sunday in Alicante.
This remarkable feat propelled the UAE to the top of the overall medal tally, ahead of badminton powerhouses such as Thailand, Denmark and Germany.
In the boys' singles U19, Riyan Malhan, who just turned 15, clinched gold after a series of stunning victories over higher-ranked and older opponents.
"Winning the Spanish International U19 is a dream come true. I'm grateful to my coaches, teammates, and the UAE Badminton Federation for believing in me. This is just the beginning — I'll keep working hard to make my country proud on the world stage," said Malhan.
Meanwhile, Adam Jeslin, who is yet to turn 15, showcased resilience and skill to earn the silver, making it a clean sweep for the UAE.
In the women's singles U19, the top honors went to Prakriti Bharath, who lived up to her second seeding with an emphatic, undefeated run. She overcame her teammate Mysha Omer in the final, who fought valiantly to bring home the silver.
"Standing on top of the podium means more than just a win — it's a reward for every early morning and every tough training session," said Prakriti.
"I'm proud to represent the UAE and hope this inspires more girls back home to chase their badminton dreams."
Adding to the medal count, the new pairing of Jeslin and Mysha brought home a well-earned bronze in the mixed doubles category. The duo stunned the second-seeded German pair in an early round, before bowing out in the semifinals to the eventual champions from Thailand.
The UAE finished their campaign with two gold, two silver medals and one bronze medal.
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Young badminton players do UAE proud in Spain
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