Nurturing the sport of badminton in Dubai

Gulf News

Nurturing the sport of badminton in Dubai. Badminton has become one of the fast-growing sports in Dubai, with many tournaments organised for all skill levels. See more at: http://gulfnews.com/gntv

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00:00With a sweltering summer heat, sports fans are looking for more indoor venues to enjoy

00:18their favorite sporting activities.

00:20Badminton, a rocket sport played by hitting a shuttlecock across a net, is one of the

00:24indoor sports gaining popularity in the Emirates.

00:27It can be played between two opposing players or as doubles match.

00:31Dubai's sports world has been a favorite venue of many badminton enthusiasts.

00:39Badminton is actually considered as one of the fastest rocket sports in the world.

00:44Just like, for example, squash and all this.

00:49The reason being is that the objective of playing the sport is always to make sure that

00:55the shuttlecock, as we call it, the feather shuttle, should not land on the floor.

01:01So you have to catch it as it flies.

01:04And how you catch it is something of a challenge.

01:06For me, it's like, you know, when you experience to hold a rocket and you try to smash it,

01:12you try to hit the shuttlecock, it's something like you will feel something like, oh, I have

01:18to, I have to, I want to play more.

01:21Experts say the sport is a total body workout with a lot of health benefits for both hobbyists

01:26and competitive players alike.

01:33It's a complete exercise.

01:34Instead of going to the gym, I go to badminton.

01:39I run before my game, I do warmups.

01:42The challenge for a badminton player is to be able to catch the shuttle from all the

01:47places, from all angles.

01:48So you have to be agile, you have to be flexible, you have to be fast.

01:52So in terms of health benefits, it's a full body workout.

01:56Aside from health benefits, badminton also has a lot more to offer.

02:00You build that kind of relationship or support system, especially if you're an expatriate

02:05coming from another country.

02:07Badminton is a good avenue for you to get that kind of community support.

02:11It's a thinking game.

02:12It's not just about running.

02:14You have to think about where you want to place the shuttlecock.

02:17And that's what I like about it, and that's what I encourage other people.

02:19I just want to see it grow, because it is a very good sport, very fun.

02:23And I think the Dubai Sports Council are promoting it in the best way now.

02:27I would like to see, personally, the Badminton Federation here in the UAE to build a gym

02:32like they have Hamdan Sports Complex, but for badminton, for racket sports.

02:36Then we can encourage not only the nationalists we can see here today, but the UAE nationals

02:41as well.

02:42As badminton gains popularity in Dubai, badminton organizers say the sport is gaining popularity

02:48among many expatriates, and they hope to attract more Emiratis to be involved in the sport

02:53as well.

02:54The most important thing about badminton here in the local setting, I think, is the grassroots

03:00development among the local population.

03:04Because as we see, badminton has never been introduced in this market.

03:09Now, with so many tournaments happening, we hope to get exposure for the sport.

03:15Badminton organizers say they want to encourage people from all walks of life, regardless

03:20of age, ability and fitness level, to play badminton as a fun way to stay physically

03:24and socially active.

03:26Irish Eden Balieza for Golf News.

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