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2/16/26, 10:33 AM Ryan Malhan tops BWF World Junior Rankings in landmark achievement for UAE Badminton - Middle East Business News a…
Ryan Malhan tops BWF World Junior Rankings in landmark

achievement for UAE Badminton

February 13, 2026

UAE, 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.

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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.

A National ecosystem for champion development:

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.

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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.

Official backing and institutional synergy:

H.E. Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, Assistant Undersecretary 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. H.E. emphasised that the accomplishment reflects a unified institutional effort and demonstrates the

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