Bedwawi brings cheers to UAE team with winning start

Photo : Mark Joseph Madrid / DCD

UAE’s Jamal Al Bedwawi brought cheers to the United Arab Emirates team after making a winning start in his men’s singles Wheelchair (WH1) event at the 6th Fazza Dubai Para Badminton International 2025.

In men’s singles WH1 Group B, Bedwawi defeated Czech Republic’s Miloš Bauer in two contrasting games 21-18, 21-2 continuing his good form from last month’s Czech Para Badminton International 2025.

The Emirati player next faces second seed and Paris 2024 Paralympics silver medallist Choi Jungman in the third round of men’s singles WH1. “I wasn’t thinking about the win but about fighting for every point. Every win makes me more confident and the medal at Czech Republic made me more responsible to win medals for UAE,” said the 26-year-old trainee at the Dubai Club for People of Determination.

Bedwawi, who is competing in all three events at the Championships, admitted that he has always been a fighter. Ever since he met with an accident in 2012, Bedwawi has fought back his spinal cord injury to take up wheelchair basketball and now Para Badminton as the biggest achievements in life.

“I will fight tomorrow as well. It will be a good learning experience against him (Choi Jungman),” he said of his upcoming match against the Korean giant.

Paralympic giants start strong

Meanwhile, top seeds and title favourites Cheah Liek Hou of Malaysia, Hong Kong’s Chu Man Kai and seasoned Koreans Kim Jung Jun and Choi Jungman all were in action on the second day of competitions.

For Man Kai, he admitted his love for Dubai and said it’s like his second home.

“I have been coming here since the first edition and I am looking forward to winning some medals this time as well,” said the reigning Asian Para Games champion who is competing in men’s singles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles Short Stature (SH6) category events.

The Shabab Al Ahli Club witnessed some thrilling action as the Paralympic stars were on show while there were some who also stole the show in women’s Standing Lower (SL3) category.

Top seed in women’s singles SL3 event, Ukraine’s Oksana Kozyna had to come back from a game down to overcome Australia’s Vinot Celine Aurelie in three games 12-21, 21-19, 21-11.

“It was a tough match. I lost to her in the group matches in Spain, so I was prepared for the match. I am hoping to win it big on Sunday,” added Kozyna, the Tokyo 2022 world champion.