Students from 14 schools competed in the open Boys’ Championships in three age divisions – under 12, under 14 and under 16, while a further 80 boys from 7 schools participated in the Emirati Challenge which ran concurrently.

This is the second year that the Schools Championships have been conducted and organisers were delighted with the response, with a 30% increase overall in the number of participants, and a 50% increase in the number of schools taking part.

The results in the Emirati Challenge were particularly pleasing, with a 150% increase in participation numbers and strong performances across the board.

After a day of tough competition the two finalists from each category were decided. The finalists, along with the Emirati Challenge winners, will be joined in the Championship Finals on 27 April by the finalists of the Girls’ Championships, which will be held on Saturday 23 April.

“We are very happy with the response to today’s event, the growth in numbers and the improvement in the standard of play is very pleasing,” said Dubai Badminton Development Manager Jaffer Ebrahim.

“The Shuttle Time Dubai programme is making a significant difference, with the children involved in the Local Training Centres making great progress under the coaches and teachers who have completed the Shuttle Time Coaching Courses.

“It is great to see so many children here, the interest in badminton is really taking off and we look forward now to seeing how the girls have progressed when they participate in the Girls’ Championships this weekend.”

The competition was organised in conjunction with the Dubai Sports Council, and is part of the ongoing Shuttle Time Dubai grassroots development program which is aimed at increasing participation in badminton.

Shuttle Time Dubai is part of Dubai’s four-year, multi-platform partnership with the Badminton World Federation (BWF), the pinnacle of which is the staging of the annual Dubai World Superseries Finals, which will be held in the city each year until 2017.