Fazza Dubai International ends as Setiawan, Hyunah steal the show

As many as 22 gold medal matches were played on the final day

Fazza Championships Director Majid Al Usaimi (third from left) and President Thani Juma Berregad (first from right, second row) pose with the champions of mixed doubles SH6 event. (Supplied photo)

By Team KT

Published: Mon 30 May 2022, 3:24 PM

The 4th Fazza Dubai Para Badminton International 2022 came to a close with a colourful ceremony at the Shabab Al Ahli Club in Dubai on Sunday.

Indonesia’s Fredy Setiawan and South Korea's Kwon Hyunah emerged on top of the championships, winning three gold medals each .

Setiawan, the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics bronze medallist, first partnered Khalimatus Sadiyah to defeat Taiyo Imai and Noriko Ito from Japan 21-11, 18-21, 21-7 in mixed doubles SL3-SU5 final, before producing an impressive show in the men’s singles SL4 final.

Sadiyah also took the gold in women’s SL4 beating Haruka Fujino 21-13, 21-18.

Setiawan overcame a second game scare from India’s Tarun Dhillon to pull off a surprise 21-11, 9-21, 23-21 win in the men’s singles final.

Later, he combined with Dwiyoko Dwiyoko to win the men’s doubles match against fellow Indonesians Himmat Ramdani and Ukun Rukaendi 21-18, 21-16.

Meawhile, Korean women’s wheelchair shuttler Hyunah took three gold medals in women’s singles WH1, women’s doubles WH1-WH2 and mixed doubles WH1-WH2. Hyunah defeated Switzerland’s Cynthia Mathez 21-12, 21-19.

Egyptian Shaimaa Samy Abdellatif was delighted to receive the women’s singles WH1 bronze medal, promising to come back stronger in upcoming events.

As many as 22 gold medal matches were played on the day with Indonesia collecting six gold medals, followed by Korea (5) who also had Choi Jungman taking two gold medals in men’s singles WH1 and men’s doubles WH1-WH2.

India too had their share of golden moments picking up five gold medals thanks to the efforts of top shuttlers Pramod Bhagat and Manasi Joshi besides the promising Manisha Ramadass, who claimed two gold in women’s singles SU5 and women’s doubles SL3-SU5.

Hong Kong’s Paralympic silver medallist Chu Man Kai took the men’s singles SH6 and men’s doubles SH6 gold medal, while his compatriot Cho Ho Yuen, Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist, had to settle for the silver after fighting for 56 minutes against Japan’s Paralympic champion Daiki Kajiwara 21-16, 5-21, 19-21.

Two gold for Hong Kong’s Man Kai and Malaysia’s Cheah

Malaysia’s Cheah Liek Hou took two titles in the men’s singles SU5 and men’s doubles SU5 finals. “These two titles will motivate me to train for upcoming events,” he said.

Among the prominent names who graced the closing ceremony were Major General Mohammad Ahmad Rafi, Assistant Commander for Administrative Affairs-Dubai Police; Ghazi Al Madani, secretary general of UAE Badminton Federation; Ian Wright, Director of Development department at Badminton World Federation and Viktor Axelsen, World No. 1 Badminton player; Fazza Championships President Thani Juma Berregad and Director of Championships Majid Al Usami.