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Rayan Malkhan from UAE wins gold medal at Youth Olympic Games
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Khaleej Times
www.khaleejtimes.com

Rayan Malkhan from UAE wins gold medal at Youth Olympic Games

Sixteen-year-old Rayan Malkhan from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has added a new chapter to the country's badminton history by winning a gold medal at the current Youth Olympic Games, which are taking place in Dakar on Thursday.

In the final match, Malkhan defeated French player Maddie Sou with a score of 21-17, 21-18, thereby securing the first gold medal in the history of the UAE at the Youth Olympic Games.

This triumph at the Youth Olympic Games followed just over a month after Rayan achieved historic success by winning the gold medal in the men's singles category at the 2026 U17 and U15 Asian Junior Championships in Chengdu, China.

At the Youth Olympic Games, Rayan successfully passed the group stage, defeating opponents from Sweden, Greece, and Malaysia, before winning the quarter-final against Thailand and the semi-final against China.

Rayan, born in Dubai to Indian parents, was extremely happy with this impressive achievement in Dakar. In an interview with Khaleej Times on Thursday, he shared his feelings: 'It feels very special, and honestly, I am grateful for these opportunities.'

He continued: 'Winning the Asian Championship, and now the Youth Olympic Games—these are two moments I will always remember. Both experiences taught me a lot, and none of this would have been possible without my family, coaches, and everyone who supported me. I am simply happy that I could make the UAE proud, and I hope to continue learning, working hard, and improving in the future.'

The UAE Badminton Federation also highly praised the young athlete's achievements. The Federation wrote on its Instagram page: 'An incredible journey to the podium, winning all six matches without losing a single game. This is an outstanding achievement based on dedication, discipline, hard work, and determination. Congratulations to Rayan, his coaches, the entire support team, and everyone who contributed to this historic success. A golden moment for Rayan. A proud moment for the UAE team. A new chapter for UAE badminton!'

Furthermore, last month, Rayan reached the quarter-finals of the Men's Singles World Junior Badminton Championships. In the team tournament of the same championship, Rayan played a key role in achieving the best result in UAE history—sixth place, when the Emirati team pulled off a surprising victory over the Asian giants India.

The rising star is reaping the rewards of grassroots development programs launched by the UAE Badminton Federation. After winning the Asian Championship, Rayan noted: 'I think it is a really good feeling, especially because something like this has never happened in a country like the UAE before. But now I feel that the UAE is moving far forward, especially in this sport. Even in 2024 in Chengdu, in the same venue, I won the bronze medal in the under-15 category, and that was also a history for the UAE.'

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Teenager Fawor Ojo becomes a historical figure at the first African Olympics
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iol.co.za

Teenager Fawor Ojo becomes a historical figure at the first African Olympics

Fawor Ojo began playing table tennis on an improvised wooden board in her family's yard, where she played with boys. One day, she told her mother about her desire to play seriously, and her mother took her straight to the stadium.

This happened in 2021. Five years later, 16-year-old Fawor became Nigeria's sole representative in table tennis at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal—the first Olympic event held on African soil.

Fawor noted the support of her mother and the help of her coach. This coach is Omoniyi Adedotun, who is the head coach for Ondo State table tennis and the national coach for the Nigerian team. He started training her in Akure in 2022.

Adedotun recalled noticing talent, determination, a desire to learn, and competitive spirit in her. He was convinced that with proper guidance, discipline, and constant training, she could compete at the highest level.

His belief proved crucial when hers wavered. Fawor performed well in the first competition but then lost tournament after tournament. Disappointed, she stepped away from the sport. Adedotun kept calling her mother, pleading to bring Fawor back to the game. She returned and soon after won a tournament in Lagos.

"Then I realized that I could do more, that I could be better," she says. Today, every training session starts with running, conditioning exercises, and footwork before she picks up a racket. On days when her motivation drops, Adedotun motivates her to keep going.

"Now I am grateful for everything he has done," she shares.

Fawor progressed rapidly. She won a gold medal with the Nigerian mixed team at the IV African Youth Games in Angola. In October 2025, while still a junior, she participated in the African Women's Senior Team Championship for Nigeria in Tunisia. Nigeria reached the semi-finals in the team standings but lost to Uganda.

"It was a huge achievement for me," she reflects, "to compete in the senior category while still being a junior." This trip also showed her what the sport demands of her. The championship took place during her school exams, and she chose to go.

She admits that her biggest sacrifice so far has been 'giving up exams for sports.' Balancing these two fields remains a difficult task. "Most of the time, if I'm not in school, I'm in competition," she notes. There aren't enough strong players at school for joint training, so during school hours, she works out at the gym, and tennis training is postponed for home time.

Dakar was not in her original plans. She always dreamed of the senior Olympics. Now that the youth tournament is being held on her own continent, she is very happy.

"It means a lot," she says. "I look forward to representing Nigeria." She will be one of 32 girls in the tennis competition, which will take place from October 31 to November 5.

Fawor's ambitions extend beyond Senegal. After finishing school, she hopes to train in France or China with top athletes. "To gain more experience, train with high levels, and improve my game," she states.

Her coach shares this vision for the future. Adedotun asserts: "As a coach, there is no greater satisfaction than discovering young talent, helping to develop that talent, and seeing an athlete successfully represent their country. I believe this is only the beginning."

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