(November 13, 2025) When 15-year-old Riyan Malhan stepped onto the podium at the Asian Youth Games 2025 in Bahrain, clutching the bronze medal for the UAE, it was another chapter in a journey already rich with breakthrough moments. For the Dubai-born teenager of Indian origin, this wasn’t a sudden arrival but a steady ascent and the latest in a series of performances that is takingt UAE badminton to new heights.
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A season of medals and milestones
The year 2025 has been a special one for Riyan. He began by capturing gold in the U19 Men’s Singles at the Spanish Junior International 2025 at Alicante in June, before going on to win gold in the Men’s Singles U19 and bronze in the Men’s Doubles U19 at the Victor Bulgaria Junior Challenge in July. The Asian Youth Games in Bahrain, where he earned a well-fought bronze in October is another great achievement of his this year. However, one of the most eye-catching moment came at the BWF World Junior Championships held between 6 to 19 October at Guwahati in India where he stunned India’s Hmar Lalthazuala by defeating him, before bowing out to Indonesia’s top-seeded Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah in the pre-quarterfinals.
“I want to qualify for the Olympics and win a medal for the UAE,” Riyan told Khaleej Times in an earlier interview. “My parents are from India, but I was born in Dubai and I am very proud to represent the UAE in international events. So, playing the Olympics for the UAE is going to be an amazing feeling.”
Rooted in Dubai, inspired by India
Riyan’s story carries the dual essence of Dubai’s cosmopolitanism and India’s sporting heritage. His father, Vipul Malhan, a St. Stephen’s College, Delhi alumnus and senior VP at Mashreq Bank, was a state-level shuttler in India before academics took precedence. “I started badminton because of my father,” Riyan told Sportstar. “He couldn’t play because his father didn’t allow him at that time as it was more about studies. I used to go with him to see him play. He introduced me to all sports and I picked up badminton. I don’t know why but it’s because of him.”
His mother, Vasudha Malhan, an educator in Dubai for over 15 years, has been a steady pillar of encouragement throughout his journey. In an interview, she had shared that since Riyan was born and raised in Dubai, the UAE has always felt like home to him. Though he once competed in India’s junior circuit, he had long dreamed of representing the UAE on the international stage. Riyan’s family remains deeply appreciative of the opportunities the country has provided to Riyan from world-class training facilities and strong support from the UAE Badminton Federation to the encouragement he receives from his school. For his mother Riyan’s achievements are not just personal milestones, but a reflection of Dubai’s growing global sporting ecosystem.
A family of academics turned shuttle supporters
The Malhan family’s roots lie deep in academia. Riyan’s paternal grandfather once headed the economics department at St. Stephen’s College, and maternal grandfather is an IIT Delhi alumnus. Both parents come from families where education and scholarship were paramount. When Riyan’s interest in badminton surfaced at the tender age of four, his parents recognized his spark and encouraged him to pursue it seriously. Starting with a childhood hobby it transformed into a defining pursuit. Over time, Riyan’s achievements became a source of shared pride within the family.
“Both sets of his grandparents are very proud of him,” his mother Vasudha shared in an interview. “Everybody in the family was surprised by how quickly he had progressed in the sport. Now they all follow his matches…His badminton has brought the whole family together.”
Rising through the ranks
Riyan’s early career included stints representing Delhi in India’s domestic U13 and U15 circuits, before he chose to represent the UAE. “Badminton in UAE has picked up a lot. It’s a really growing sport at the moment and the UAE federation has been kind enough and great to support me in terms of my travel and hotel accommodation. Recently, they have also started a national camp in Dubai,” Riyan told Sportstar. His Danish coach Michael Noerbaek, who serves as the national coach in UAE has been diligently working on various elements of Riyan’s tactical and mental game.
Training with the best
Under Noerbaek’s guidance, UAE’s young players have gained opportunities to train with world-class talent including Danish star Anders Antonsen, currently World No. 2. “It’s been an incredible learning experience,” said Riyan. “To watch players of that calibre up close and understand how they approach the game, has been inspiring.”
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A new era for UAE badminton
From his bronze at the Badminton Asia U15 Championships (2024, China) to his string of international medals across Europe and Asia in 2025, Riyan’s journey captures both the ambition of a young athlete and the rise of a nation eager to make its mark in badminton.
With the 2026 Youth Olympics and 2028 Summer Olympics firmly on his horizon, Riyan Malhan represents not just sporting promise but the evolving identity of the UAE, where multicultural talent finds a stage.
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