The Saudi badminton team topped the “gold medals” standings in the 2026 West Asian Regional Championship for Juniors and Youth, which was hosted by Bahrain during the period from 5 to 12 November (November) with the participation of 10 teams after achieving 18 colored medals, 7 gold, 5 silver, and 6 bronze in the age groups U-16, 19, and 23 years.
In the under-16 competitions, the Saudi team won 7 medals, 3 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze. Youssef Felemban won the individual gold and the doubles gold in partnership with Abdullah Al-Abdullah, and the mixed doubles gold with Haneen Miyajan, while Abdullah Al-Abdullah won the individual silver, and the team won the team competition silver, while Haneen Miyajan won the individual bronze and the doubles bronze in partnership with Maysan Miyajan.
In the U-19 category, Al-Akhdar won 6 medals, two gold, two silver, and two bronze. Al-Wathiq Al-Obaidi won the singles gold, and the doubles gold with Abdulaziz Al-Maqhawi, who added the individual bronze and the mixed doubles silver in partnership with Al-Batoul Al-Mutairi, while Saba Al-Harithi and Al-Batoul Al-Mutairi achieved the doubles bronze, and the team won the silver in the team competitions.
In the U-23 competitions, the team won 5 medals, two gold, one silver and two bronze. Qahtan Al-Obaidi won the individual gold and doubles gold in partnership with Fahd Al-Maliki, who won the individual bronze, while Shaima Al-Harbi and Lana Jean won the doubles bronze, and the team added silver in the team competitions.
This achievement reflects the development witnessed by Saudi badminton, and the success of national talents in competing for first places in various age groups, in addition to the team’s arrival in the finals of the team competitions in the three categories, which confirms the continued presence of Al-Akhdar on the regional podiums.
The young star Hammam Al-Hammami, the winger of the Al-Shabab team and the Saudi national team, caught the spotlight during the recent Gulf Cup tournament, after an exceptional career that ended with raising the cup and crowning the best player award and bringing a smile to the Saudi fans after a long absence.
Al-Hammami stressed that winning the Gulf Cup title was an exceptional milestone in his football career, pointing out that the great understanding between the players and the technical staff, in addition to the coach’s knowledge of the Saudi player, was one of the most prominent secrets of success. He revealed that he did not feel the injury he suffered during the final match due to the enthusiasm and crowd atmosphere, confirming that he recovered from it and returned to group training.
In an exclusive interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Hamami talked about the scenes of the achievement, the most difficult moments the team experienced on its way to the title, and the role the coach played in creating harmony within the group, as well as his relationship with his father and the surprise he experienced after the final match.
The player, born in 2004, also touched on the future of the new generation of Saudi football, his experience with Al-Ittihad, Al-Khuloud and Al-Shabab clubs, and his ambition to have an external professional experience, leading to achieving the dream of participating in the European Champions League.
* What are the latest developments in your treatment journey for the injury?
- Praise be to God, I successfully passed the treatment stage, and I spent about four to five weeks in the rehabilitation program, and I recently joined group exercises with the team. I have fully recovered and things are going well, and I am ready to participate, God willing.
* Although the injury was in the back muscle, you completed the Gulf Cup final. Did you not feel pain at that time?
- With the noise of the crowd and the enthusiasm of the match, I did not feel the injury at all in those moments, but thank God I have now recovered and my physical condition has become completely stable.
*What is still stuck in your mind from that historic match?
- It was an exceptional tournament in every sense of the word, and an unforgettable memory for me and all my colleagues. It was beautiful in every detail from beginning to end. Praise be to God that we succeeded in achieving the title and making this great people happy. There was a great understanding between the players and the technical and administrative staff, and everyone was determined to win the cup.
* Observers noticed harmony and high spirit, which made the team appear ideal, surpassing any shortcomings. What is the secret of that?
- As I mentioned, the group was very close-knit, both at the level of players and the technical staff. There was great harmony between us and the coach, who understood our playing style and what we are good at on the field, and thanks to this harmony we succeeded in winning the title.
* How do you evaluate the experience of working with Coach Denis?
- Denis is a coach with extensive experience, especially in our league. He has been in the Kingdom for more than ten years, and is fully aware of the mentality of the Saudi player and the nature of the local competition, and I believe that this experience has greatly benefited the national team.
* What is the most difficult stage in the tournament’s journey, or what can be described as a “bottleneck”?
- The semi-final confrontation against the Qatari team, specifically the penalty shootout, was the most difficult stage of all. But once I crossed it, I realized that there was only one step remaining between us and glory, and thanks to the support of the fans and the circumstances around us, we gained tremendous motivation to clinch the title.
* You presented outstanding levels before the tournament that led you to the national team, but you appeared in a very remarkable manner during it. What was different about your performance?
- I cannot limit the matter to one specific factor, but everyone’s solidarity played the most prominent role. All the players had a strong desire to play and prove themselves, and thanks to this collective spirit, we were able to give our best.
* Immediately after winning the cup, who was the first person you contacted?
- my father; I called him right after the match ended. He was very happy and congratulated me on this achievement, and I recalled his words to me before the start of the tournament when he said: “With God’s permission, you will give what you have to do and more, and you will come back with the cup.”
* It was said that you were surprised by the presence of one of your former coaches in the stands of the stadium. What is the truth about this matter?
- Indeed, he is a coach who supervised my training more than ten years ago, and I did not know that he was on the field. Suddenly my brother drew my attention to his presence, and I had not seen him for a long time, so it was a very pleasant and beautiful surprise.
* You were born in 2004, that is, one year after the team’s last coronation in 2003... After 23 years of waiting, the team returned to the podium. Do you consider this achievement a birth certificate for a new generation?
- God willing. When looking at the national team roster, we find that the average age is young and middle, which heralds the presence of a strong upcoming generation, whether from the current players or their colleagues in the rest of the clubs who have the potential to serve Saudi football in the future.
* After leaving the World Cup, it was said that this is a new generation that must be judged in the future, and the Gulf Cup came to give the fans great optimism. Does that represent an additional incentive for you?
- Whether the current generation or previous generations, everyone has goodness and blessings. Any player who wears the national team's logo feels the great honor and responsibility placed on his shoulders, and, God willing, we will achieve distinguished achievements in the next stage.
* During the long camps, what was the atmosphere that brought the players closer together and broke the training routine?
There was a room designated for players where we would gather to play games and have fun during the free period that extended from after dinner until bedtime.
* You had a professional experience at the beginning of your career... How did it affect you?
Every experience has its benefits at all levels, and I learned a lot from it. It is true that it came at an early age and cannot be compared to the amount of responsibility, pressure and seriousness required at the current stage, but it was a very positive and fruitful station in my career.
* Do you ever entertain the idea of professionalism abroad again?
- Yes, certainly, the idea exists and is present in my accounts, God willing.
*Which periodicals excite you?
- Major European leagues that any player aspires to, such as the Spanish League and the French League. I don't support a specific club, but playing in the Spanish League is a personal dream for me.
* What is still on Hammam Al Hammami’s sporting dreams list?
- I aspire to achieve a lot; The most notable of which is playing at the highest international levels, participating in the European Champions League, God willing, and winning more major championships and achievements.
* You moved between Al-Ittihad, Al-Khouloud and Al-Shabab clubs... Which of these stations contributed to your football maturity?
- In fact, I benefited from all of these stations; In Al-Ittihad, although I did not participate continuously with the first team, I gained a lot of experience, and then came the experience of immortality, which gave me the opportunity to participate actively and helped me a lot to develop, all the way to Al-Shabab, which is a big club that I participate with regularly now. In short, the three stations were a real addition to my career.
* In conclusion, what is your message to the fans?
We promise them, God willing, that we will continue to make them happy in the upcoming tournaments, just as they were happy with the Gulf Cup. We are in dire need of their continued support and support in the upcoming events, and, God willing, we will always live up to their expectations.
