Badminton on right track
DUBAI — Dubai’s development as a global hub for badminton took another step forward last week as the first umpires in the UAE achieved their National Level Accreditation, courtesy of Shuttle Time Dubai.
The 38 attendees representing clubs, schools and academies from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah undertook the six-day course at Dubai Sports World under the guidance of Sudhakar Vemuri, a member of the BWF Umpire Assessment Panel.
Mr Sudhakar is a highly respected BWF technical official, with 28 years’ experience at international level, and a recipient of the BWF Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his role as a mentor for BWF umpires. His experience includes officiating in three consecutive Olympic Games (1992, 1996 and 2000), a rare feat among badminton officials. Shuttle Time Dubai was delighted to welcome him as the instructor for their first Umpires Course.
The course participants are now qualified to officiate at national level competitions, and once they have gained further experience will now be encouraged to pursue Badminton Asia Confederation level certifications.
Dubai Badminton Development Manager Jaffer Ebrahim was pleased with the response to the course, saying: “This is an important step in the development of badminton in Dubai and I was impressed with the candidates’ dedication and commitment. “These umpires now join the growing ranks of accredited coaches and teachers being trained as part of Shuttle Time Dubai’s commitment to equipping those involved in badminton with the appropriate skills to deliver quality programs. We are building a network of trained personnel to ensure the sport can continue to grow and develop in a structured and sustainable way.”
The course was held as part of the Shuttle Time Dubai programme, an innovative, engaging and inclusive development program which aims to encourage participation in badminton across the community, and which operates with the support of the Dubai Sports Council. It was implemented as part of the arrangement between the BWF and Dubai Sports Council, the pinnacle of which is the hosting of the Dubai World Superseries Finals in Dubai each December from 2014-2017.
For more information on Shuttle Time Dubai visit Badminton Shuttle Time Dubai on Facebook, or log on to www.dubaisuperseriesfinals.ae Tickets to the Dubai World Superseries Finals will be available soon through Ticketmaster.
These umpires now join the growing ranks of accredited coaches Jaffer Ebrahim