Golden generation: UAE’s teen titans take over Europe in badminton

Dubai: They’re barely old enough to travel alone on their own. Some not even old enough to drive. But this week, a group of UAE teenagers flew home with a haul of medals that’s already being called historic.

The UAE Junior Badminton Team dominated the Spanish International U19 Championship in Alicante, securing two golds, two silvers, and a bronze, finishing ahead of powerhouses such as Germany, Thailand, and Denmark in the overall medal tally.

The performance wasn’t just dominant — it marked the arrival of what could be a golden generation for UAE badminton.

Leading the charge was Riyan Malhan, a 15-year-old with the calm of a veteran and the hunger of a champion. Malhan stormed through the boys’ singles draw, defeating older and higher-ranked opponents to claim gold. His final opponent? Fellow UAE prodigy Adam Jeslin, also 14, who took silver — a clean sweep no one saw coming.

“Winning the Spanish International U19 is a dream come true,” Malhan said. “This is just the beginning — I’ll keep working harder to make my country proud on the world stage.”

This isn’t just podium polish for Malhan. The Dubai Gems Private School student already has his sights set on the 2026 Youth Olympics and a long-term dream of competing at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. “To achieve my goals, one has to be prepared to make sacrifices,” he told Gulf News earlier. “I don’t see that as an option. I do it for the results — and it’s showing in my game.”

Born in the UAE, Riyan’s love for badminton began when his father, Vipul Malhan, introduced him to the sport. He grew up idolising Chinese legend Lin Dan, and now he’s modelling that same relentless discipline — skipping parties, cutting out junk food, and chasing his Olympic vision one win at a time.

The women’s singles event saw similar dominance, with Prakriti Bharath living up to her second seeding by clinching gold after an undefeated run. She overcame compatriot Mysha Omer in an all-UAE final — another statement of depth in the country’s rising talent pool.

Bharath’s win in Spain came a month after she earned a bronze medal at the FZ FORZA Alpes International U19 2025 in France, where she produced a string of strong performances and only narrowly missed a place in the final after a thrilling semi-final against the tournament’s top seed.

“Standing on top of the podium means more than just a win — it’s a reward for every early morning and every tough training session,” said Bharath. “I hope this inspires more girls back home to chase their badminton dreams.”

Jeslin and Omer later teamed up in the mixed doubles, pulling off a major upset against the second-seeded German pair before settling for bronze after a tight semi-final loss to the eventual Thai champions. It was their first tournament as a duo — and already they’ve hinted at bigger things.

This breakthrough showing is no accident. UAE Badminton’s High-Performance Department, led by Performance Director Michael Norbek, has been laying the groundwork for years. Supported by initiatives like “Road to Dakar 2026” and “Pathway to Los Angeles 2028”, the results are now shining through.

“To stand atop the medal tally in a field that includes Europe’s and Asia’s finest is a proud moment for UAE badminton,” said the UAE Badminton Federation. “These results reflect our belief that excellence is achievable with the right support and hard work.”