Page 90 - MOS PR REPORT FEBRUARY 2026

2/16/26, 10:31 AM Ryan Malhan tops BWF World Junior Rankings in landmark achievement for UAE Badminton | Emirates News Agency

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

https://www.wam.ae/en/article/bypxrmk-ryan-malhan-tops-bwf-world-junior-rankings 2/5