New Middle East International School (NMEIS) Riyadh and Jeddah International Indian School (IISJ) won a total of three medals for the CBSE Kingdom schools during the CBSE badminton national finals recently in Chennai, India.

NMEIS and IISJ both won the right to represent Saudi Arabia, among other schools in the Gulf, following the Kingdom level qualifications, according to Vijender Singh, badminton coach of ISSJ. There are 28 CBSE-accredited schools in Saudi Arabia.

The national finals attracted 350 students representing 72 schools from India and the Gulf region and hosted by Velammal Vidyashram School, Surapet, Chennai. A total of I5 teams from the GCC region representing Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait schools entered the competition including 4 international Indian schools from Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam.

IISJ’s won the silver medal in the mixed doubles courtesy of Jadeer Hasan who teamed with Ms. Rashi Lamba of Nagpur, Maharashtra to reach the final where the IISJ duo lost to Mahadevi, Kolkata and Little Angels, Sonepet, 21-16, 21-19. On their way to the final Hasan and Lamba beat Choice School, Cochin and Modern School, Delhi in the pre-quarterfinals, DPS Doha and Indian School Muscat in the round-of-eight and Manav Rachna School Faridabad, and FAIPS Kuwait in the semifinals.

NMEIS took home silver medal in the singles Under-19 category courtesy of Thakiyudheen Wahid and bronze medal in the Under-14 mixed doubles through Sereena Ciril.

CBSE Sports Director Pushkar Vohra , a prominent figure in the field of academic sports, presented trophies to he winners at the closing ceremony assisted by the CBSE Gulf Cord Tapan Das.

Pervez Ahmed (IISD), CBSE observer Saudi Chapter G-V M, conveyed his hearty congratulations to the medal winners. He said: “It was an honor for the Saudi chapter to have players like Wahid and Sereena.” Pervez also congratulated the coach, Savad P. of NMEIS Badminton Academy, and the school for the achievement.

“It was tough, qualifying and competing with well trained sports enthusiasts out of our own campus. We are proud of the efforts of our champions,” said Savad P.

The NMEIS Badminton Academy that opened two years ago now has 50 students being trained under the watchful eyes of chief coach Savad P. Tabassum Farooqui , principal NMEIS, congratulated the medal winners and stated that “these young dynamic students have brought great honor to the entire school and would be publically felicitated in the school auditorium as soon as they are back from India.”