The rising badminton star from the UAE, Ryan Malhan, achieved a historic feat by winning the country's first Olympic gold in the men's singles category at the 2026 Asian U17 and U15 Junior Championships held in Chengdu, China.
The main player demonstrated brilliant attacking skill, defeating the fourth seed from China, Zhang Xin Yue, in the final with a score of 15–5, 15–9.
For the 16-year-old athlete, this was a memorable event as he also secured a bronze medal in the U17 doubles category alongside his teammate from the UAE, Adam Jeslin. Ryan was extremely happy to receive both medals, especially the historic gold for the UAE at the continental tournament.
In an interview with Khaleej Times via phone from Chengdu, China, Ryan noted: 'Of course, I was number one among the seeds, and frankly, I expected to win the tournament. It was not a surprise for me.'
However, Ryan's path was not easy; he had to overcome difficult moments to maintain his hopes. He shared that 'the journey throughout this tournament was uneven.' In the first round, he played against China and lost the first set 15–4, but then managed to come back in the second set, winning despite trailing 10–6, with a score of 15–12.
He added that all his matches up to the quarterfinals went to a third set, where he lost the first set. In the semi-finals and the final, he won in straight two sets, which brought him some relief. Ryan emphasized that it was not an easy tournament because it was held at the best level of Asia, and he is satisfied and proud after this victory.
Ryan, who will later represent the UAE at the Junior Badminton World Championships this year, explained why winning the Asian Championship is a landmark moment in his young career. He stated that being the best in Asia means almost being the best in the world, believing that Asia dominates more in sports, although perhaps one or two players from Europe can reach such a level.
Furthermore, being the top seed at the Asian Championships became a source of pride for Ryan, who is now reaping the benefits of grassroots development programs launched by the UAE. He mentioned that it is a very pleasant feeling, especially because nothing like this has happened before with a country like the UAE. He also noted that the UAE is making significant progress, particularly in this sport, recalling that in 2024 in Chengdu, in the same venue, he won bronze in the U15 category, which was also a historic achievement for the UAE. Now, moving up to the U17 category and winning the gold medal, he considers it a reason for pride for himself, his country, and everyone who supported him.
Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, Chairman of the UAE Sports Talent and National Sports Development Committee, also highly praised Ryan's triumph. In his statement, Sheikh Suhail noted that Ryan Malhan's gold medal at the Asian Championships, as well as the bronze in doubles won with Adam Jeslin, represents a significant achievement for UAE sports and demonstrates that investing in young talent through clear and sustainable pathways can produce athletes capable of competing at the highest continental and international levels.
