Some of the world’s best Para Badminton stars will return to action when the Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum 3rd Dubai Para Badminton International 2021 Championships gets underway at the Shabab Al Ahli Club here from Tuesday.

This will be the first BWF Para Badminton tournament after more than a year because of the Covid-19 Pandemic; the last international meet was held in Peru in February 2020.

As many as 127 players from 29 countries including hosts United Arab Emirates have confirmed their participation at the March 30-April 4 championship, which will have several world champions including Indonesia’s top player Leani Ratri Oktila, India’s multiple-time world champion and Indonesia 2018 Asian Para Games winner Pramod Bhagat and Manasi Joshi, France’s Lucas Mazur among others.

“I always knew that none other than Dubai could have conducted the first tournament after Pandemic hit. The infrastructure, the people, the system and structure in Dubai and by Fazza are one the best in the world to organise para events,” said Basel 2019 world champion Manasi Joshi.

Among other highlights of the Dubai 2021- Para Badminton event will be teams from Israel, Maldives and Nepal who are set to compete this year.

While Team India will field the biggest number of team of 26 players, Nepal will have just one player. Hosts UAE will be represented by six players including two female.

New name launched for Championships

This year the Championships, known as Fazza-Dubai Para Badminton International in the past years, has been renamed to pay tribute to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance and Industry, who passed away recently.

The decision on the name of the Championships was taken in coordination with the Dubai Sports Council and the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

Mourning the death of Sheikh Hamdan, Chairman of the Fazza Championships and Dubai Club for People of Determination Chairman Mr. Thani Juma Barregad expressed gratitude and appreciation to the greatest supporter of People of Determination.

“We pray from the bottom of our heart for late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum. May God bless him with great mercy and forgiveness and may his soul rest in peace. The People of Determination will not forget their spiritual father, who provided his financial and moral support throughout these years.”

Mr Barregad also welcomed all the participating teams to Dubai and the Championships. “This is also the season opener for Para Badminton and we are happy to welcome the Para Badminton teams from 29 countries and see some of the best action this week. Good Luck to everyone.”

Meanwhile, Majid Al-Usaimi, Director of the International Fazza Championships for People of Determination, added that the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum cultivated will, confidence and determination within the People of Determination and showed his love and generosity.

“He will always remain in our hearts.”