Dubai: 14-year-old badminton star rises from academic family
Being raised in a family of scholars, Riyan Malhan, a student at Dubai Gem Private School, had the potential to aim for a scholarship to Harvard or Stanford.
Riyan is dedicated to his studies, showing up for all his classes in Dubai five days a week. However, it was outside of his classrooms that this 14-year-old discovered his real passion - badminton.
Riyan, a young prodigy, achieved a historic milestone on Saturday as the first player from the UAE and West Asia to win a medal at the Badminton Asia U17 & U15 Junior Championships in Chengdu, China.
Riyan had to be content with the bronze medal following a tough semifinal loss to eventual champion Qian Jia Xing of China, with the final score being 21-16 21-17.
Securing a spot on the podium in a competition, after defeating strong contenders from China and Indonesia, is a notable accomplishment for a player from the UAE.
The competition was extremely challenging, with participants from countries such as China, Japan, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The competition was challenging, but I believed I would make it to the final. I was defeated in the semifinal, it was a game that I had the potential to win.
Even though Riyan is focused on winning gold at the upcoming Asian Junior Championships, his ultimate aspirations include competing in the 2026 Youth Olympics and the 2028 Summer Olympics.
My goal is to meet the requirements for the Olympics and bring home a medal for the UAE. Although my parents are Indian, I was born in Dubai and I take great pride in representing the UAE in global competitions. He expressed excitement about representing the UAE in the Olympics.
Vasudha Malhan, who is Riyan's mother, believes that it would be a dream come true for her child to represent the UAE on the global stage.
Since Riyan was born in this place, it holds a special place in his heart as his home. Vasudha mentioned that although he competed in the Junior Indian Championships, his ultimate goal was to compete for the UAE in global competitions.
We are truly appreciative of all that Riyan has received in this country. The infrastructure in this location is incredible, as we receive much support from both the UAE Badminton Federation and the school.
"We feel extremely fortunate." It shows Dubai's global significance that many top European and Indian players come here often to train. Every academy in Dubai where Riyan has received training has welcomed him warmly, providing valuable feedback to help him improve. An added bonus is that my husband is also very knowledgeable about the game.
Vipul, who is Riyan's father, used to compete in badminton at the state level in India, but later shifted his attention entirely to academics.
My husband and I both come from families of academics. I have worked as a teacher in Dubai for over 15 years, while my husband attended St Stephen's College (Delhi) where my father-in-law served as the head of the economics department. My father hails from IIT Delhi, which stands for Indian Institute of Technology. We originate from a purely academic upbringing. When Riyan became interested in badminton, my husband supported him, and he began playing with the shuttlecock at four years old," Vasudha remembered.
Riyan's achievements, such as winning a gold medal at a youth tournament in Bulgaria, have sparked a newfound passion for badminton in his grandparents.
His grandparents on both sides are extremely proud of him. Indeed, all members of the family were shocked by how rapidly he had advanced in the sport. Vasudha stated that now both her mother and mother-in-law are addicted to the game, following his matches.
They track the scores in each game as their grandson is participating. His badminton skills have united the entire family in games where everyone enthusiastically supports and cheers for him.
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