Stars continue to impress at season-ending Fazza-Dubai Para Badminton International

New stars emerged while seasoned players stamped their dominance as the curtain fell on the season-ending fifth Fazza Dubai Para Badminton International 2023.  

Paralympic and Asian Para Games stars Qu Zimo and Yin Menglu (WH1) and Liu Yutong (WH2) continued their amazing run of form to clinch two gold medals each as China finished on the top of the medals table with nine golds. 

There were also others like Li Fengmei (WS SH6), Cheng Hefang (WS SL4) adding to China’s tally of gold medals.

Stars in Dubai

Malaysia’s Muhammed Fareez Anuar claimed his first singles title of the year while Nigeria’s Mariam Eniola Bolaji clinched her first gold in Dubai following an amazing week. 

Anuar defeated Paralympic champion Cheah Liek Hou 21-19, 21-19 in the men’s singles SU5 final, before they together clinched their eighth men’s doubles SU5 title of the year.  

“I am satisfied with my performance here. I am happy to maintain a top form until the end of the year. Anuar has improved a lot in his game but there’s a lot of things he must learn and become solid at a few things,” said Liek Hou. 

In the men's singles WH2 final, Japan's Daiki Kajiwara dominated and pulled off a confident 21-14, 21-15 victory against Daniel Chan Ho Yuen of Hong Kong. The Japanese star also won his 100th consecutive match during the tournament. 

“I don’t think about records when I am in the court. For me I follow what my coach says,” said Kajiwara, adding that he is focused ‘training’ in the New Year. 

In men’s standing events, Paralympic champion Pramod Bhagat of India lost to his English arch-rival Daniel Bethell in straight games 17-21, 8-21.  Meanwhile, India's Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj fell to Malaysia’s Mohd Amin Burhanuddin 21-13, 21-16 in the men's singles SL4 final but was content with the way he played in the year.  

Having started the year ranked 39th after missing out several Level 1 tournaments, Yathiraj slowly climbed the ladder making the most in the Level 2 events.   

“The only way to be a Paralympic contender is to play exceedingly well in the Level 2 tournaments and I managed to do that. So far, it’s been a great season. You cannot afford to be complacent at any point as from India itself, it’s a tough competition to qualify for the Paralympics,” said the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic silver medallist. 

On a mission 

Nigeria’s Mariam Eniola Bolaji, who won the women's singles SL3 tournament in Dubai, is on a mission. Bolaji wants to become the first Para badminton player from Nigeria to win a gold medal at the Paralympics. 

In Dubai, she was stretched to the limit by Indonesian world no. 1 Syakuroh Qonitah Ikthtiar before the Nigerian pulled off a 21-7, 13-21, 21-11 win in the final. 

“She (Syakuroh) was a tough opponent. She has good balance and is all over the court. Happy to finally win it and achieve one of my goals this year,” Bolaji, who beat China’s Asian Para Games champion Zuxian Xiao in the semifinals.

Currently No.23 in the Paralympic Games qualification rankings, she is hoping to climb the rankings and compete in her dream event – the Paralympics.

“I have a big dream of playing the Paralympics and become the first Para shuttler to win a gold medal there,” Bolaji said.

Bolaji, who pulled off a surprise victory in her international debut at the 2021 Spanish Open Para Badminton International, was unbeaten in 2023. She won the Uganda International 2023 before clinching three gold medals at the Africa Para Badminton Championships in Kampala, Uganda.

As she continues her journey to the Paralympics, she draws motivation from India’s Bhagat and Nitesh Kumar.

“I am very thankful to Badminton Confederation of Africa and Nigeria Badminton Federation, who have supported me and sent me to Spain,” said Bolaji, who participated in a three-week training camp in Spain with coach Dina Mita. 

An inspiration for athletes 

There was another player from Africa who was hogging the limelight in Dubai.  

For Uganda’s Elizabeth Mwesigwa, who started badminton in 2017, Para badminton is about inspiring people with disabilities in her country to play sports. She also wants to change perception toward people with disabilities. 

“In my country, I see many people with disabilities sit on the street and start begging for money. I play Para badminton to inspire this section of the people in my country. I want to change people’s perception, who say that people with disability cannot do this or that,” Mwesigwa said.

This year, she exited from the Dubai event in the round-robin stage, but she has a silver medal in the women’s doubles SL3-SU5 tournament at the African Para Badminton Championships, which she is proud about.

Mwesigwa, who walks with her knees due to a condition she was born with, has faced challenges when she started playing the sport, such as finding a shoe to continue playing. She is currently running an organisation to support children with disabilities.

Now, she is an inspiration to many Para shuttlers in her country, including Ritah Asiimwe.

“She has overcome so many hurdles and despite (having a) severe disability, she makes sure to come to training and play competitions,” Assimwe said.