The UAE U-19 badminton team held a two-week high-performance training camp at the Prime Sports Academy in Qusais in preparation for the World Junior Championships to be held in Nanchang, China from September 30 to October 13. The team headed to China was accompanied by seven more promising junior players during camp under Danish coach Michael Novek. UAE athletes will take part in the mixed team championship and individual championship, with Bharath Ratheesh leading the challenge.
Ballas, 17, became the world’s top athlete in February this year and currently holds fifth place in the world junior rankings. Other members of the UAE team are Dev Vishnu, Dhiren Ayyappan, Dev Ayyappan, Meesha Omer Khan, Taveer Khan, Sakshi Prakash Kulbkergi and Talalakshmi Karthikeyan, who competed in men’s singles and doubles, women’s singles and Participates in doubles and mixed doubles.
The UAE are ranked seventh in the tournament, ahead of India in eighth place and South Korea in ninth place. The UAE is in Group D of the 40-nation tournament, along with four other countries – Denmark, New Zealand, Cook Islands and Trinidad and Tobago. China is at the top of the seeding ranking, followed by Thailand in second place.
Other prospects in this camp include Riyan Malhan, Adithya Kiran, Nathan Mathew, Steve Mathew, Jeebakkar, Madhumisa Sundarapandian, Zainaba Reem Siraj, Emiratis Abdul Aziz Yahya and Ghadia. Nine junior players also participated.