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Gulf Today
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Shuttler Bedwawi to lead UAE charge at 6th Fazza Dubai Para Badminton event
After making history for the nation, Emirati Para shuttler Jamal Khalifa Al Bedwawi is set to lead a new-look UAE team at the 6th Fazza Dubai Para Badminton International 2025. Bedwawi clinched UAE's first ever international medal in Para Badminton with a bronze medal at the Czech Para Badminton International 2025 last month. A trainee at the Dubai Club for People of Determination, 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 WH1-WH2. The 26-year-old will be joined by his Dubai Club training partners Siham Alrasheedy (women's singles WH2) and event debutant Omair Mohammed (men's singles WH1) – both of whom will be pairing up with Bedwawi for the mixed doubles and men's doubles event. The UAE team will also have a representative in men's SU5 category with Sinan Asif set to compete in three events. Bedwawi, who sustained a spinal cord injury and damaged nerve following an accident in 2012, understands all eyes will be on him at home this week, and he is ready to take the responsibility to win a medal for the nation. 'I'm more confident now – I feel I am responsible to win a gold medal for the nation,' said Al Bedwawi, who is playing the sport for last three years and has also participated at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games. For the Emirati player badminton means gives 'freedom, power to achieve his long-cherished goals'. 'My personal goals will be to improve my world ranking and more medal winning show,' added the ever-smiling player, who is also a key member at the UAE national wheelchair basketball team. The 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. We are keenly looking forward to the Fazza Championships,' said Singh. A thrilling action is expected over the next few days as 150 shuttlers from 30 nations will be in action at the championships that runs until May 11. Top Para shuttlers in the world including Paralympic and Asian Para Games stars have arrived for the championships and trained at the official venue. 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 others. South 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 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 in the largest contingent of 28 members. For Hong Kong, Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games gold medallist Chu Man Kai returns to the UAE Emirate Dubai for the sixth time. Ahead of the competition, the championships also witnessed 30 new shuttlers getting their classification.
Gulf News
14-02-2025
- Sport
- Gulf News
Emotional moment for proud mother Siham Alrasheedy after gold medal triumph
Dubai: It was an emotional moment for UAE's Siham Alrasheedy as she clinched the women's discus F52-57 gold medal at the ongoing 16th Fazza Para Athletics Grand Prix — Dubai 2025. Alrasheedy hurled the discus to a distance of 22.96 metres to take the gold at her home ground. The 43-year-old trainee at the Dubai Club has been a regular to the Fazza Para Athletics Championships since its inception and has won several medals at the event in the past. But the 2025 edition was special. She was cheered by her family from the recently renovated Dubai Club for People of Determination stadium stands as she competed. 'It was a proud and emotional moment for me as my mother and my son (Abdullah) were cheering for me from the stands,' said a teary-eyed Alrasheedy, who is also a Para Badminton player in Wheelchair WH2 category and aims to improve her rankings this year. 'They inspired me a lot to win the gold today. I am so happy to start the season with a success.' Alrasheedy was joined by two more Emirati players on the top of the podium including Sara Aljneibi, the Rio 2026 Paralympic bronze medallist and Abdalla Almarzooqi as UAE's god medals reached seven. Aljneibi claimed the fifth gold medal for the host nation with an effort of 5.22 metres in women's shot put F32/33 final. Emirati Thekra Al Kaabi, who already has a gold at the event, finished fourth in the same event. Meanwhile, Almarzooqi claimed the yellow metal in men's 100m T71/72 final, finishing the race in 24.65 seconds. Promising Mohamad Othman continued to make the most of his good form taking the bronze in men's 400m wheelchair T34 final. He touched the finishing line in 51.23 seconds. Among the top names: Swiss legend Marcel Hug continued to spell his magic on the Dubai Club for People of Determination blue Mondo tracks. He finished the men's 800m wheelchair T53/54 timeraces in 1:34.21 to take his third gold medal. Hug's compatriot Patricia Eachus won her second medal at the Fazza championships clinching the top place in women's 800m wheelchair T54 final in 1:50.78 seconds. Greece's two-time Paralympic champion Athanasios Ghavelas kicked off the 2025 season with a gold in men's 100m T11 final. He was happy to take the gold but hoped to improve his timing in the coming time — he managed a timing of 11.43s after a fall in the start of the race. 'The World Championship in New Delhi is the target for me this year.' At the medal standings, UAE are in third place with 18 medals including seven gold, behind India and Saudi Arabia, who have won eight gold each. Sign up for the Daily Briefing Get the latest news and updates straight to your inbox
