UAE badminton players shine at Spanish International U-19 Championship

Alicante: In a sensational display of rising talent and determination, the UAE Junior Badminton Team etched their name in history by securing gold and silver medals in both men’s and women’s Singles at the Spanish International U19 Championship, which concluded in Alicante.

This remarkable feat propelled the UAE to the top of the overall medal tally, ahead of badminton powerhouses such as Germany, Thailand, and Denmark.

In the Boys’ Singles U19, Riyan Malhan, who just turned 15, clinched gold after a series of stunning victories over higher-ranked and older opponents.

His compatriot, Adam Jeslin, who is yet to turn 15, showcased equal resilience and skill to earn the Silver, making it a clean sweep for the UAE.

In the women’s singles U-19, the top honors went to Prakriti Bharath, who lived up to her second seeding with an emphatic, undefeated run. She overcame her teammate Mysha Omer in the finals, who fought valiantly to bring home the silver.

Adding to the medal count, the new pairing of Jeslin and Omer brought home a well-earned bronze in the mixed doubles category.

The duo stunned the second-seeded German pair in an early round, before bowing out in the semi-finals to the eventual champions from Thailand.

They secured two gold medals in the singles events, with Malhan triumphing in the boys’ singles and Prakriti claiming the top spot in the girls’ singles.

Adding to the tally were two silver medals: Jeslin finished as runner-up in the boys’ singles, while Omer earned silver in the girls’ singles.

The duo of Jeslin and Omer also combined to win a bronze medal in the mixed doubles event, rounding off a successful showing for the team.