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Shuttle Time Dubai a big success

And for six talented teams, the best is yet to come as they have won their way through to the Championship Finals on April 29, where they will also meet world number one Saina Nehwal of India.

Dubai — Nearly 200 young badminton players made sporting history last weekend when the preliminary stage of the first Shuttle Time Dubai Schools Championships was held at the Salah Addin Sports Hall, Al Mamzar, a Press release said.

Participants at the Shuttle Time Dubai Schools Championships.— Supplied photo 

And for six talented teams, the best is yet to come as they have won their way through to the Championship Finals on April 29, where they will also meet world number one Saina Nehwal of India.

Students from 14 schools competed in the Boys’ Championships in three age divisions – under 13, under 15 and under 17, while a further 30 boys from six schools participated in the Emirati Challenge which ran concurrently. The six winning boys’ teams and the Emirati Challenge winners will be joined in the Championship Finals by the winners of the Girls’ Championships, which will be held on Saturday, April 25. Participants in the Schools Championships will not only get the chance to meet Nehwal, but also win tickets to December’s Dubai World Superseries Finals, coaching clinics with former world number one Peter Gade, as well as badminton kits.

Nehwal made history earlier this month when she became the first Indian player to take the top spot in the world rankings and was the first Indian to win the Yonex-Sunrise India Open. While attending the Schools Championships in Dubai, Nehwal will also take part in a coaching clinic with the participating students, as well as signing autographs in a session open to the public from 12.30-1pm. The Schools Championships will be held at the Sports Zone, Fitness First, The Meadows from 9am-1pm on Wednesday, April 29.

Nehwal will also tour a number of the world class sporting venues in Dubai, and meet local dignitaries during her visit.

The competition was organised in conjunction with the Dubai Sports Council.