Dubai new badminton home as Shuttle Time darts ahead

Shuttle Time Dubai with trainees and enthusiasts of all ages and levels numbering well over 150 participants took part as DSW ambassador.

UAE player Mona Al Sahlawi teams up with Jaffer Ebrahim to challenge some of the more experienced players. — Supplied photo

Dubai — The six hova covered courts facility, all free to play on with playing kit and shuttles also provided free, was the centre of attraction as the fifth Dubai Sports World (DSW) multi discipline recreation and tournament summer session took off at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Shuttle Time Dubai with trainees and enthusiasts of all ages and levels numbering well over 150 participants took part as DSW ambassador and UAE player Mona Al Sahlawi teamed up with Shuttle Time Dubai coordinator Jaffer Ebrahim, the Bahrain national champion, to challenge some of the more experienced players in a game of mixed doubles.

The year-old Shuttle Time Dubai programme for grassroot and higher level promotion of badminton was introduced as part of the partnership between the Dubai Sports Council and the Badminton World Federation to bring the Dubai World Superseries Finals to Dubai each December from 2014 to 2017, and Thomas Lund, secretary general of BWF, was present for the opening of DSW to be able to assess the progress of the development of the sport locally.

“It’s pretty unique what we’ve seen here over the last couple of years. It’s my third time here at Dubai Sports World and it’s really amazing how it’s grown. Three years ago the set up was good but there weren’t that many people playing badminton then. Today is really great and very pleasing to see that the badminton courts are the busiest of all the areas,” Lund said. Lund added: “We need to continue what we are doing now, it is vital to continue to educate the teachers.

The world’s elite players are firmly on qualification for the Dubai World Superseries Finals this year, and Lund was enthusiastic about the caliber of the competition to expect from December 9-13  at the Hamdan Sports Complex. “The Olympic qualifying year is really intense, every match counts so this year so the Superseries Finals promises to be even more exciting than last year. The facilities here are superb, and with a great grassroots programme and a fantastic Finals to look forward to, Dubai is really becoming the new home for badminton.”