UAE Badminton Federation organises UAE International Badminton Camp to propel Olympic ambitions

The camp, which features the participation of world-class coaches, is a key outcome of the ‘Future of Sports Retreat’ held by the Ministry of Sports

Noura Aljasmi: The camp marks a significant milestone for UAE sports in identifying and nurturing talented athletes poised to bring international success to the nation.

Safa Taryam: The committee provides support and training opportunities to athletes and sports talents. Additionally, the camp serves as a unique platform to achieve outstanding milestones in badminton.

• A world-class lineup of coaches are participating in the camp, including World Champion Kamilla Rytter Pedersen and elite coach Michael Nørbaek.
• The camp marks the launch of the ‘Badminton Road to LA 2028’ to prepare and develop UAE players with Olympic potential.
• The camp will identify exceptional athletes who will have the opportunity to further develop their talents and enhance their skills through the ‘Elite’ and ‘Development’ pathways, under the supervision of the Committee.

UAE, December XX, 2024:

The UAE Badminton Federation, in collaboration with the Emirates Committee for Elite and High-Performance, announced the ‘ESUAE International High-Performance Camp,’ being held at the Hong Xing Badminton Academy in Dubai from December 14 to 19, 2024. Sponsored by the Ministry of Sports in collaboration with the Badminton World Federation (BWF), the camp aims to identify and nurture national talents in badminton as part of the UAE’s Olympic Games preparation strategy.

The camp features physical testing and comprehensive training programs designed to enhance players' abilities, cultivating their motor and tactical skills. The ‘ESUAE International High-Performance Camp’ marks the first phase of the Emirates Committee for Elite and High-Performance’ comprehensive selection process for exceptional UAE athletes for the 2028, 2032, and 2036 Olympic Games. This effort aligns with the UAE’s national sports strategy of increasing the number of Olympic-qualified athletes to over 30 by 2031.

The camp brings together a world-class lineup of coaches, including Olympic silver medalist and World Champion Kamilla Rytter Pedersen, elite coach Michael Nørbaek, and Anders Thomsen from Carolina Marin’s coaching team. Their collective experience is delivering a unique training experience, combining elite strategies, insights, and tailored coaching to refine the players’ performance. The camp also features a workshop specifically designed for Federation and Committee coaches, focusing on advancing local coaching methodologies and equipping them with cutting-edge tools and techniques to elevate the standard of badminton training across the UAE. Through this blend of specialised training programs, physical evaluations, and collaborative learning, the initiative aims to enhance the UAE’s competitive edge internationally.

H.E. Noura Aljasmi, the President of the UAE Badminton Federation, said, “The camp represents a significant milestone for UAE sports in identifying and nurturing talented athletes poised to achieve triumphs for the UAE in international events. Additionally, it fosters a competitive sports culture that inspires athletes and offers them more avenues to participate in high-level competitive levels, thereby advancing the country's sporting aspirations.”

H.E. commended the widespread popularity of badminton in the UAE, driven by initiatives such as the ‘Shuttle Time’ and the long-standing partnership between the Dubai Sports Council and the BWF, established in 2014 under the agreement. Furthermore, the Federation has worked closely with clubs and academies to enhance player participation and engagement in the sport.

“We have engaged three of the world's best coaches for the camp to elevate the players' technical performance. This camp is being held in collaboration with the Emirates Committee for Elite and High-Performance at the Ministry of Sports, and I extend my heartfelt gratitude to them for their steadfast support in advancing badminton. I would also like to express my appreciation to our partners at the Dubai Sports Council and our medical partner, Tadawi Hospital,” H.E. added.

Safa Taryam, Executive director of the Emirates Committee for Elite and High-Performance, emphasised the Committee's support for the camp, which aims to identify and nurture badminton talents. Taryam also highlighted the Committee's dedication to providing support and training prospects to athletes and sports talents.

Taryam added, “The camp offers an invaluable opportunity for the UAE to achieve success in the future Olympic Games in the discipline of badminton, ensuring the sustainability of sports in the UAE. It is a key outcome of the ‘Future of Sports Retreat’ held by the Ministry in October.”

Taryam highlighted the camp's significance in advancing badminton in the UAE, laying the groundwork for Olympic preparations, and setting athletes on a structured path toward international success. The primary objective is to nurture talent and enhance athletic performance in line with the national vision of achieving excellence in this field.

Ghadeer Al Taheri, UAE national badminton team athlete, expressed her appreciation for being part of the camp. She commended the steadfast support from the Ministry of Sports, the UAE Badminton Federation, and the Elite Committee, as well as their commitment to monitoring development programs. Al Taheri emphasised the significance of intensive preparation programs in ensuring optimal results and enhancing the players' technical level. She also shared her positive experience at the Asian Olympic Camp held in Kuala Lumpur from November 6 to 23, 2024, which provided her with valuable insights. Al Taheri is looking forward to maximising the benefits of the high-performance badminton camp to elevate the team's overall performance.

A major highlight of the camp is the launch of the ‘Badminton Road to LA 2028,’ a dedicated initiative to prepare and develop UAE players with Olympic potential. Alongside this, the UAE Badminton Talent Identification & Development Player Pathway will be introduced as a structured program focused on recognising and fostering emerging talent to build a pipeline of future champions.

The camp outcome will determine the initial categories for both the ‘Elite’ and ‘Development’ pathways within UAE badminton. This process involves selecting several exceptional athletes to further refine their talents and enhance their skill sets through these two pathways, supervised by the Committee.

The 'Elite' pathway is designed to prepare the top players for international competitions, focusing on qualifying for the Olympics. This pathway includes the most competitive players in the UAE, particularly in global events, and places emphasis on improving skills, endurance, and tactical knowledge to cultivate a cohort of world-class athletes. The ‘Development’ pathway focuses on nurturing and enhancing the abilities of UAE athletes to compete strongly across Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and West Asian and Arab states. This program is designed to foster the talents of emerging UAE athletes, emphasising the development of their core skills and competitive capabilities and preparing them for potential advancement to the highest levels.

The UAE Badminton Camp will be followed by a sequence of activities, including a press conference to announce the launching of the Player Development Pathway in collaboration with the Emirates Committee for Elite and High-Performance, the international badminton training conference in partnership with the Dubai Sports Council and the Emirates Committee for Elite and High-Performance, and the concluding round of the age category rankings. These events aim to build a pipeline of a competitive generation capable of achieving success in badminton and fulfilling national ambitions.