Wednesday Dec 25, 2024
Wednesday Dec 25, 2024
Monday, 16 December 2024 03:33 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Kayan Thassim (left) and Noah Thassim
Noah Thassim
Kayan Thassim
Noah Thassim and Kayan Thassim, two brothers with Sri Lankan roots and grandsons of the late S.B.C. Thassim, secured three medals at the Saudi Badminton Federation Under-15 Championship.
The two brothers, living in the Middle Eastern country, have had a keen interest in badminton since a tender age, and winning medals at the national level in Saudi Arabia has given them true inspiration to pursue more success in the coming competitions next season.
Kayan (14) claimed two medals, a Bronze each in the Boys’ Singles and Doubles, but the standout achievement came from Noah (13), who had the privilege of pocketing the Silver medal in the Boys’ Singles.
The brothers had the rare moment of facing each other in the Boys’ Doubles quarter-finals, after competing with different partners and performing exceptionally well during the initial knockout rounds.
Noah and his partner had claimed the first set after a near nerve-racking battle, but ended up losing to his own sibling, Kayan, and his partner, who made a remarkable comeback to overcome his younger brother.
Noah fiercely and single-handedly clashed against the older brother and his strong partner, but he found himself on the losing side after a strong battle.
Kayan and his partner went on to compete for the third position, but they were outsmarted by the eventual Gold medal winners, as the young Sri Lankan and his partner settled in with the Bronze medal in the Boys’ Doubles category.
Noah went all the way to the finals of the Boys’ Singles after a perfect campaign, but despite his relentless efforts, he was outsmarted by the eventual Gold medallist, pushing the Sri Lankan youngster to the Silver medal.
Kayan on the other hand, competed for the third position in Singles, and faced a stiff challenge from his opponent before going down in the first set. But his crafty moves, filled with great determination enabled him to make a strong comeback and win the remaining two sets to claim the Bronze medal.
Both Kayan and Noah are now ranked among the Top 8 in both Boys’ Singles and Doubles in the Under-15 category in Saudi Arabia.
They are slotted to compete in the upcoming elite competition in January 2025, where only the top ranked shuttlers will be featured.
Following their experience and exposure in the concluded tournament, the brothers will weigh the plusses and minuses as they reflect and grow from this opportunity. Both brothers will optimistically compete to finish among medal winners at the elite competition.
By claiming three medals in two categories, Kayan and Noah have proved that they are already a force to be reckoned with at future competitions in Saudi Arabia and around the globe.
The administrators of the Saudi Arabian Badminton Federation and the Sports Ministry are putting out their best efforts to uplift the standards of the game. Badminton clubs around Saudi Arabia and club and private coaches are equally committed with one goal in their mind – to be able to reach the world stage.
The Saudi Badminton Federation Under-15 Tournament was represented by 82 youngsters contesting in the Singles and 40 teams competing in the Doubles events, representing 40 professional badminton teams from across Saudi Arabia.
