Sharjah, UAE : The UAE turned home advantage into history at the inaugural BWF AirBadminton World Cup 2025, edging China 60–54 in a pulsating 102-minute Team Relay final to clinch a landmark gold in front of a capacity crowd.
What made the victory remarkable was the way the hosts grew into the contest. UAE’s women, who struggled to find rhythm in the individual events, flourished in the team format to keep the match finely balanced. When the men took over, composure under pressure proved decisive as China tightened and the UAE closed out the tie to spark emotional celebrations.
Star performer Dhiren Ayyappan summed up the moment. “We didn’t expect this. We knew we were strong, but today feels surreal for the whole team,” he said, later thanking the UAE Badminton Federation for the opportunity to represent the country on a global stage.
The champions’ route to the title was anything but straightforward. In the quarterfinals, the UAE upset favourites Hong Kong China with a bold tactical call—opening with women’s triples—to seize an early edge and hold on for a 60–56 win. Confidence surged in the semifinals as they brushed aside Egypt 60–42, confirming the earlier upset was no accident.
China, dominant earlier in the day after sweeping past Germany and defeating Brazil 60–52 in the semifinals, were widely tipped to lift the trophy. “We’re happy to play here and hope to come back next year to win the team title,” said China captain Chen Lu after the final.
The wider podium reflected the tournament’s global reach, with medals shared across four continents: China (1 gold, 1 silver), Brazil (1 gold, 1 bronze), UAE (1 gold, 1 bronze), Hong Kong China (1 silver, 1 bronze), Egypt (2 bronze), Bulgaria (1 silver), and Indonesia (1 bronze).
BWF Development Director Ian Wright, who spearheaded the AirBadminton concept, hailed the event’s significance. After 12 years of development, he called the Sharjah finale a dream realised, praising the Sharjah Sports Council and organisers for delivering a world-class debut that opened doors for emerging nations.
With ambitious plans already in place for 2026, the Sharjah triumph has ensured the AirBadminton World Cup began not just with a new format—but with a new champion and a new belief.
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