DUBAI: As badminton fans wait eagerly for their heroes to take to the court in the 2016 Rio Olympics in just a few days’ time, local players are battling it out for glory in the Shuttle Time Dubai Badminton Club Championships at Dubai Sports World. After a thrilling first round on Aug. 1, the second round played on Friday saw frontrunners emerge in the exciting battle for the coveted title.
The team format sees players in 15 teams representing 12 clubs and academies across Dubai face off in five categories; Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Women’s Doubles and Masters Doubles (40 and above). Ten teams divided into two groups of five (level A and Level B) will contest Group A, with a further five teams contesting Group B. The round robin matches are being played over three weeks on 1, 5 and 12 August, with the top four teams in each level qualifying for the semifinals on 19 August, before the winners of the Shuttle Time Dubai Club Championships title are decided in the finals on 26 August.
In Group A Level A the schedule in Round 2 was somewhat interrupted with Newbreed A having to withdraw, giving Team Yonex, NSNL SD A and Prime Star a walkover each. The remaining matches served up plenty of excitement though, with Prime Star defeating Team Victor A 4-1, a victory which sees them move to the top of the table. Team Victor recovered to register a win in their other game, defeating NSNL-SD A 3-2.
Group A Level B saw some tough matches with Newbreed B taking two more wins after their first round victory. Newbreed B defeated Eagle Smashers 4-1, and Arab Badminton Club 3-2, and have now emerged as the favorites to take out the group. NSNL- SD B also added to their win from last week, defeating Arab Badminton Club 4-1 and sit second on the ladder behind Newbreed B. Captain Badminton club’s win over Eagle Smashers 3-2 sees them in third place, ahead of Arab Badminton Club and Eagle Smashers.
In Group B Friday Smashers and Team Victor B have emerged as the clubs to beat, Friday Smashers scoring a solid 5-0 win over Last Point Club before defeating Badmintown 3-2. The win sees them overtake first round leaders Team Victor B, and they now sit at the top of the table. Team Victor B maintained their second position with a win over Badmintown 4-1. Shuttle Rockers posted their first win, defeating Last Point Club and are now in third, ahead of Badmintown and Last Point Club who are yet to register a win.
This Friday will see the last of the round matches played before the semifinals on Aug. 19 and the finals on Aug. 26 where the teams will fight it out for the second annual Shuttle Time Dubai Club Championships title.
The Club Championships are held under the umbrella of Shuttle Time Dubai, an innovative, engaging and inclusive development program which aims to encourage participation in badminton across the community. In addition to the Club Championships, Shuttle Time is being implemented through a range of programs and activities including teacher training and coaching development programs; Schools Championships and the provision of free courts at Dubai Sports World.
The Shuttle Time Dubai program is being 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.
The team format sees players in 15 teams representing 12 clubs and academies across Dubai face off in five categories; Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Women’s Doubles and Masters Doubles (40 and above). Ten teams divided into two groups of five (level A and Level B) will contest Group A, with a further five teams contesting Group B. The round robin matches are being played over three weeks on 1, 5 and 12 August, with the top four teams in each level qualifying for the semifinals on 19 August, before the winners of the Shuttle Time Dubai Club Championships title are decided in the finals on 26 August.
In Group A Level A the schedule in Round 2 was somewhat interrupted with Newbreed A having to withdraw, giving Team Yonex, NSNL SD A and Prime Star a walkover each. The remaining matches served up plenty of excitement though, with Prime Star defeating Team Victor A 4-1, a victory which sees them move to the top of the table. Team Victor recovered to register a win in their other game, defeating NSNL-SD A 3-2.
Group A Level B saw some tough matches with Newbreed B taking two more wins after their first round victory. Newbreed B defeated Eagle Smashers 4-1, and Arab Badminton Club 3-2, and have now emerged as the favorites to take out the group. NSNL- SD B also added to their win from last week, defeating Arab Badminton Club 4-1 and sit second on the ladder behind Newbreed B. Captain Badminton club’s win over Eagle Smashers 3-2 sees them in third place, ahead of Arab Badminton Club and Eagle Smashers.
In Group B Friday Smashers and Team Victor B have emerged as the clubs to beat, Friday Smashers scoring a solid 5-0 win over Last Point Club before defeating Badmintown 3-2. The win sees them overtake first round leaders Team Victor B, and they now sit at the top of the table. Team Victor B maintained their second position with a win over Badmintown 4-1. Shuttle Rockers posted their first win, defeating Last Point Club and are now in third, ahead of Badmintown and Last Point Club who are yet to register a win.
This Friday will see the last of the round matches played before the semifinals on Aug. 19 and the finals on Aug. 26 where the teams will fight it out for the second annual Shuttle Time Dubai Club Championships title.
The Club Championships are held under the umbrella of Shuttle Time Dubai, an innovative, engaging and inclusive development program which aims to encourage participation in badminton across the community. In addition to the Club Championships, Shuttle Time is being implemented through a range of programs and activities including teacher training and coaching development programs; Schools Championships and the provision of free courts at Dubai Sports World.
The Shuttle Time Dubai program is being 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.
