South Korea shine with six gold medals at Dubai 2025 Para Badminton International

Photo : Mark Joseph Madrid / DCD

The 6th Fazza Para Badminton International – Dubai 2025 concluded with South Korea finishing on top of the podium with six gold medals amid loud cheers and strong team support at the Shabab Al Ahli Club here on Sunday.

Promising shuttlers Sooyoung Yu and Gyeoul Jung claimed two gold medals each winning the men’s and women’s Wheelchair (WH2) finals. Meanwhile, Shin Kyung Hwan clinched the other two gold medals for Korea in Standing events – he clinched the men’s singles Standing SL4 and men’s doubles SL3-SL4 gold, pairing with Joo Dongjae.

Following Korea in the medals table, Malaysia claimed three gold medals while Turkiye, India, England and Indonesia also shone with a gold medal each.

Fazza Championships Chairman Thani Juma Berregad was amazed to see the intensity of the matches and the world class performances delivered by the top shuttlers at the Shabab Al Ahli Club. He also praised the UAE team’s effort at the championships whose campaign ended in the quarter-finals.

“Our players’ effort and training were evident in the matches. They have tried to match the level of the game of the Paralympic champions here. I’m very delighted to witness their development and performance like these have will boost their confidence. Definitely, the championship was a big learning experience for the team.” 

The highlight of the final day was Sooyoung’s upset win over Paris 2024 bronze medallist and senior compatriot Kim Jung Jun in a nerve wrecking men’s singles WH2 match that lasted 60 minutes.

Sooyoung rallied from a game down to win 19-21, 25-23, 22-20 over his senior compatriot Jung Jun, much to the praise from the senior player.

“It was a great match – we knew each other very well and we tried to play like we do in the practice matches. Kim played better than practice today - I feel that legend is still alive,” said Sooyoung who won the first singles gold medal at the Fazza Dubai Championships in his third appearance.

Meanwhile, he paired with Park Haeseong to beat legendary players Jung Jun and Choi Jungman 21-16, 21-13.

In the women’s events, unseeded Gyeoul shocked top seed and veteran player Emine Seckin from Turkiye in straight games 21-18, 21-11 for the women’s WH2 title.

Later, Gyeoul and Haeseong got the better of Turkish and Italian duo of Seckin and Yuri Ferrigno 21-16, 21-13.

Two gold for Malaysian top seed

Among other top names, world number 1 Cheah Liek Hou clinched two gold medals for Malaysia winning the men’s singles and men’s doubles Standing Upper - SU5 events.

While Cheah defeated compatriot Muhammed Fareez Anuar in straight games 21-12, 22-20 in the singles event, both the players paired up to win the doubles crown against India’s promising duo of Hardik Makkar and Ruthick Ragupathi 21-18, 21-15.

Ukrainian Oksana Kozyna once again displayed her fighting spirit to beat France’s Milena Surreau, the newly classified SL3 player, 24-22, 17-21, 21-10 in the women’s singles Standing Lower – SL3 final.

Malaysia took on more gold when Muhammed Ikhwan Ramli staged a remarkable comeback to win the men’s wheelchair WH1 final over Korean Paralympic silver medallist Choi Jungman 13-21, 21-18, 21-6.