Page 113 - MOS PR REPORT FEBRUARY 2026

Ryan Malhan tops BWF World Junior Rankings in landmark achievement for UAE Badminton

13th February 2026, 22:43 GMT+11
ABU DHABI, 13th February, 2026 () -- Ryan Malhan has marked a historic milestone for UAE
badminton by topping the latest Badminton World Federation (BWF) youth rankings, following his
impressive, well-deserved victory at the BWF-sanctioned Hungarian International Youth
Championship.

The achievement crowns a standout run of continental and international success. Malhan
previously secured a bronze medal at the 2025 Asian Youth Games, building on his earlier podium
finish at the 2024 Asian U15 Championships. Together, these achievements firmly establish him as
one of Asia's elite players in his age category.

Malhan's rise on the global stage reflects the strength of the UAE's integrated sports development
framework, led by the UAE Committee For Talent And Sports Support. At the heart of this progress is
the recently launched 'National Athlete Pathway,' a comprehensive integrated framework designed
to identify, nurture, and elevate sporting talent in line with international best practices.

Elite Sport UAE (ESUAE) has also played a critical role in his journey by providing a professional
high-performance environment through the Badminton Centre of Excellence. This includes
advanced technical support and specialised strength and fitness programs tailored to support
elite-level development.
As part of its ongoing efforts, the Committee also organised a high-level specialised technical
meeting with world-renowned global badminton star Anders Antonsen, currently ranked World No.
3 by the BWF. Antonsen, a European Games champion (2019), four-time European Champion
(2021-2024), and multiple World Championships bronze medalist (2021, 2023, 2025), met with
officials and emerging talents on the sidelines of the UAE Sports Talent Badminton Championship.
The meeting, which concluded recently, aimed to strengthen the player's technical capabilities and
enhance his pathway toward world-class performance.

Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Sports Development and
Competitiveness Sector at the Ministry of Sports, and Chairman of the UAE Committee For Talent
And Sports Support, highlighted Malhan's achievement as a testament to the nation's strategic
vision and commitment to investing in sporting talent.

He emphasised that the accomplishment reflects a unified institutional effort and demonstrates
the effectiveness of the 'National Athlete Pathway' in preparing athletes to compete, succeed, and
represent the UAE at the highest international levels.

Commenting on the meeting with Antonsen, Suhail bin Butti noted that this initiative comes as part
of the Committee's strategy to engage and involve globally accomplished, Olympic-level athletes in
talent discovery championships across various sports.

Such initiatives, He said, are designed to accelerate the technical development of emerging Emirati
talent, broaden their global exposure, and enhance the competitive prospects of achieving
international success.

https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/278866089/ryan-malhan-tops-bwf-world-junior-rankings-
in-landmark-achievement-for-uae-badminton