staddoha.com
Badminton is hugely popular among Qatar’s expatriate population and the undying passion for the racquet sport came to the fore during the QIA Badminton Tournament 2022, which concluded on Saturday at Al Rayyan Private School.
Part of the three month long Winter Sports Festival organised by the Qatar Indian Association (QIA), the badminton tournament brought together enthusiasts from different countries, and featured a range of players – from an Olympian, to former professionals and tiny tots. This was the first-ever badminton event organised by QIA, in partnership with the PlayBuddy app and the Apex Body of Association of Badminton Academies and Clubs in Qatar.
More than 250 players participated in 23 different categories and events, both singles and doubles, starting from the U9 age group for boys and girls, and going all the way to the elite unisex category, and the veterans’ category for players aged 45 and above.
Among the players who featured in the tournament was Godwin Olofua, a Nigerian national badminton star, who has won several medals at continental level and on the BWF circuit, in addition to representing his country at the Tokyo Olympics last year.
Former Indoneisan professionals Septian Dwi Muliana, Reddy Perdana, Muhammad Antonio Dhyasz also participated in the QIA tournament and were among the star attractions in the Elite category.
Qatar’s basketball legend Yaseen Ismail Moussa was in attendance on the final day as chief guest and presented prizes to winners.
“It was an honour to be at the QIA badminton finals. I had a great time with the players and the fans,” said the former Qatari international, who participated in an exhibition doubles game alongside Qatar Badminton Association head coach Muhammad Syawal, playing against the duo of EP Abdulrahman, president of QIA, and Leena Hari, director of PlayBuddy.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, QIA president EP Abdulrahman said: “For the last few days, we witnessed the highest levels of energy. The finals were electric. We assure all of you that QIA will be with you to promote sports among the Indian community, as well as the other expatriate communities.”
We believe sports is the way to encourage brotherhood among all the expatriate communities in Qatar.”
WINNERS:
- U9 Girls’ Singles – Nevaeh Serah Arun, U9 Boys’ Singles – Adon Cherian Liju
- U11 Girls’ Singles – Sanjanaa Nakula, U11 Boys’ Singles – Jayden Mathew
- U13 Girls’ Singles – Mayukha Sreejesh Nair, U13 Boys’ Singles – Shreyas Reddy Chilaka
- U15 Girls’ Singles – Mayukha Sreejesh Nair, U15 Boys’ Singles – Pridhav Shyam Gopan
- U17 Girls’ Singles- Prakriti Bharath, U17 Boys’ Singles – Reuven John Jithu
- U19 Boys’ Singles – Nishanth Shenai
Men’s Doubles D Category – Irshad Moothedath & Karthikeyan Sundaramurthy, Men’s Doubles C Category – Shareef Pallath Musthafa & Zakariya M P, Men’s Doubles B Category – Faris Chovvenchery & Midhun Jose, Men’s Doubles A Category – Arjun Shine & Muhammed Gayuh
Women’s Doubles – Diya Manoj Shetty & Sunidhi Shenoy, Mixed Doubles – Muhammed Gayuh & Prakriti Bharath, Men’s Doubles Elite – Afrizal Nor Hudha & Reddy Perdana
Vetaran Doubles 45+ – Jacky How & Satheeshan Shine, Masters’ Doubles 35+ – Jijo & Noorudheen P P
Women’s Singles – Prakriti Bharath, Men’s Singles A Category – Arjun Shine, Elite Singles – Septian Dwi Muliana.