Latest news with #AlBedwawi
Al Etihad
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Al Etihad
Fazza Para Badminton concludes with hosts richer by experience
13 May 2025 01:05 KUUMAR SHYAM (DUBAI)The sixth Fazza Para Badminton International in Dubai concluded with South Korea on top while the UAE squad finished with their best performance to date at the conclusion of the four-day event at the premises of the Shabab Al Ahli Al Bedwawi, who has become the main hope for the national team in just three years of playing para badminton, said: "There were many learnings to take – about technique, shuttle control and confidence. The feeling is very strong to go back to training and improve."Al Bedwawi, 26, went up to the quarter-final stage in the men's singles WH2 category where he lost to a 48-year-old seasoned rival and the much-higher ranked Jeong Jaie-gun from Gyeongju, South Emirati showed the right spirit after the match when he said: "It was a good game; I gave my best. I want to have that kind of confidence like him (Jeong)". The trainee athlete from the People of Determination club, Dubai, trainee, also represents the UAE in wheelchair the host squad and the intensity shown by the competitors overall, Thani Juma Berregad, the chairman of the organising committee, said: "Our players' effort and training were evident in the matches. They have tried to match the level of the game of the Paralympic champions here. I'm very delighted to witness their development and performance like these have will boost their confidence. Definitely, the championship was a big learning experience for the team."The UAE coach Aditya Singh also appreciated the clear improvement for the local players. "Compared to the last Fazza Championships, all the players have made significant improvement in their overall game – technique, approach, confidence, and strokes. We have had a good few weeks of preparation ahead of the Championships and the results paid off well."Meanwhile, the medal tally was dominated by South Korea, who hauled in six gold medals, while Malaysia came bouncing hard on the final day for three gold medals which put them in the second spot on the Korean shuttlers Sooyoung Yu and Gyeoul Jung claimed two gold medals each, adding the men's and women's Wheelchair (WH2) finals respectively. Their compatriot Shin Kyung Hwan reeled in the other two gold medals in the standing events. He won the men's singles Standing SL4 as well as the men's doubles SL3-SL4 event, pairing with Joo Dongjae for the latter. Following the East Asian sides were Türkiye, India, England and Indonesia who grabbed a gold medal each.
Al Etihad
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Al Etihad
Fazza Dubai Para Badminton: Al Bedwawi seeks more net gains for UAE at home after historic feat
6 May 2025 21:58 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 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 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 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 UAE team will also have a representative in the men's SU5 category with Sinan Asif set to compete in three 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 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 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.
