UAE Badminton Federation reveals details of Asian Individuals Championship hosted by country

The UAE Badminton Federation announced the details of the Asian Individual Championship, during a press conference hosted by the General Authority of Sports (GAS). Held under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Honorary President of the UAE Badminton Federation at Rashid bin Hamdan Indoor Hall in Al Nasr Club from April 25 to 30, 2023. the event is being hosted by the UAE for the first time. The event is organised by the Badminton Asia Confederation and the UAE Badminton Federation, with the sponsorship of KhiladiX.com and Sobha Realty, and the support of GAS, Dubai Sports Council, Al Nasr Sports Games Company, the French School, and Sheikh Manaa bin Hasher Al Maktoum Polyclinic.

The press conference led by Abdulaziz Al-Hussan Al Shamsi, Director of the Competitive Sports Department at GAS, witnessed the presence of Her Excellency Noura Al Jasmi, President of the UAE Badminton Federation, and Jassem Kanso, Vice President of the Badminton World Federation for Asia, Financial Secretary of the Badminton Asia Confederation, and President of the Lebanese Badminton Federation. The press meets also saw the participation of representatives of the sponsors including Francis Alfred, Managing Director and CEO of Sobha Realty; Dr. Muhammad Al-Masri, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sheikh Maneh bin Hasher Al Maktoum Polyclinic; George Gayesh, representative of Beyond Boundaries Sports management, KhiladiX.com and Floky; Mansoor Hussein Al-Tawash, representative of Al-Nasr Sports Company; and Marwan Moaz and Nour Damerji, representatives of the French School.

The tournament is anticipated to be highly competitive with over 300 athletes participating, including the best Asian teams and continental winners.

During the press conference, Noura Al Jasmi expressed her happiness on UAE hosting this event for the first time, which is an accomplishment that can be attributed to the UAE Badminton Federation and the Arab world. Furthermore, she highlighted that the event demonstrates the confidence in the UAE’s potential to host excellent sporting events owing to its administrative competencies as well as the country’s capability to organise the world’s most important continental forum for badminton, especially due to the excellence of the game at the level of the continent and its global classification.

In addition, she stressed the significance and benefits of conducting the Asian Championship in the UAE, as it is the second largest badminton tournament in the world following the Badminton World Cup, while wishing the UAE all success in organising the event. 

With athletes from six Arab nations competing, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Bahrain, Iraq, and Jordan, Al Jasmi further expressed her confidence that the competing Arab teams will achieve best outcomes and uphold the honour of Arab badminton. She also highlighted the steady development of badminton in the Arab world, with outstanding male and female players, further emphasising the significance of holding the tournament in the UAE to provide the best shows.

Jassem Kanso affirmed that the Asian Championship is a unique occasion in the Arab world, which demonstrates the growth of badminton in the region due to the effects the event has on the development of male and female players, technical and administrative cadres, and helping promote the sport more widely across the Arab countries.

Francis Alfred said: “Our involvement in the tournament as its sponsor reflects our confidence in the significant role of the private sector in supporting the sports sector in general and badminton. This tournament offers an excellent opportunity to collaborate with the Badminton Asia Confederation and the UAE Badminton Federation, and it's an ideal chance to meet and cheer on the best badminton players.”

This year, the UAE hosted the Asian Club Championship, amid high follow-up, with over three million views on various social media, in addition to extensive media coverage from various Asian countries.