Historic Youth Olympics gold for UAE's Riyan Malhan

The UAE's young badminton star Riyan Malhan has created history by winning the gold medal at the ongoing Youth Olympic Games in Dakar on Thursday. The 16-year-old defeated France's Mady Sow in the men's singles final, securing the UAE's first-ever gold medal at the Youth Olympics.

Riyan won the final 21-17, 21-18, delivering an impressive performance and adding another major achievement to his growing badminton career.

The historic victory marks another proud moment for UAE sports and highlights the country's growing presence in international badminton.

Riyan Malhan Makes History for UAE Badminton

Riyan's Youth Olympic gold medal comes just over a month after another remarkable achievement at the Badminton Asia U17 and U15 Junior Championships 2026 in Chengdu, China.

At the tournament, the young player won the singles gold medal, further establishing himself as one of the promising young badminton talents.

His latest victory in Dakar adds to this success, making him the first UAE athlete to win a gold medal at the Youth Olympic Games.

Impressive Journey to the Youth Olympics Final

Riyan maintained an unbeaten run throughout the competition, winning all his matches to reach the top of the podium.

His journey included victories against players from Sweden, Greece and Malaysia during the group stage.

He then progressed through the knockout rounds by defeating opponents from Thailand in the quarter-finals and China in the semi-finals before facing France's Mady Sow in the final.

According to the UAE Badminton Federation, Riyan won all six matches without dropping a single game, highlighting his consistency and strong performance throughout the tournament.

Indian-Origin Teenager Proud to Represent UAE

Born in Dubai to Indian parents, Riyan expressed his happiness and gratitude after securing the historic victory.

He said that winning gold at both the Asian Championships and the Youth Olympic Games were two unforgettable moments in his career.

The teenager also credited his family, coaches and support team for helping him achieve these milestones.

Riyan said he was happy to make the UAE proud and hoped to continue learning, working hard and improving his performance in future competitions.

UAE Badminton Federation Celebrates Historic Achievement

The UAE Badminton Federation congratulated Riyan on his outstanding performance and described the victory as a proud moment for the country.

In a social media post, the federation praised his dedication, discipline, hard work and determination.

It also acknowledged the contribution of his coaches, support staff and everyone involved in his journey.

The federation highlighted that winning all six matches without losing a single game was an impressive achievement for the young player.

Strong Performances at International Junior Championships

Riyan has also delivered impressive performances at other major international badminton competitions.

Last month, he reached the pre-quarter-finals in the singles category at the Junior World Badminton Championships.

He also played an important role in the UAE team's performance at the same tournament. The Emirati team secured its best-ever finish by reaching sixth position after recording a surprising victory over badminton powerhouse India.

These results demonstrate Riyan's growing experience and ability to compete against some of the strongest young players internationally.

UAE's Grassroots Badminton Development Showing Results

Riyan's success reflects the progress of grassroots badminton development programmes introduced by the UAE Badminton Federation.

The young champion had previously highlighted how much the sport has developed in the country.

He also recalled winning a bronze medal in the Under-15 category at the 2024 competition in Chengdu, describing that achievement as another historic moment for UAE badminton.

With back-to-back international successes, Riyan Malhan is emerging as one of the most exciting young talents in the sport.

His Youth Olympic gold medal is not only a personal milestone but also a significant achievement for UAE badminton, inspiring more young athletes to pursue the sport at an international level.