- Wide Participation and Intense Competition Highlight the Growth of School Sports in Dubai
The table tennis and golf competitions of the 2025–2026 MIDEA Dubai Schools Games concluded successfully, organized by the Dubai Sports Council in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports, Ministry of Education, and the Knowledge & Human Development Authority, and operated in partnership with ESM.
This season sees the participation of over 25,000 students competing across 25 sports over more than 100 days of events, making it the largest school sports initiative in Dubai, reflecting a culture of excellence and institutional collaboration in nurturing the next generation of athletes.
The competitions took place in a spirited atmosphere of sportsmanship, once again demonstrating the program's success in identifying and developing promising talent. The table tennis tournament, held at Danube Sports World, attracted 231 students from 30 schools, who played more than 500 matches across six age categories for boys and girls.
In the under-13 girls' category, Aradhya Budhiraja of GEMS New Millennium School claimed first place, followed by Ishika Gopinath of Cambridge International School in second, and Anushka Rajesh Nair of GEMS Our Own English School in third. In the boys' division, Raghav Agarwal of GEMS Modern Academy took first, Izaan Muhammed of The Indian International School, Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) came second, and Vivaan Vinod Darak, also of GEMS Modern Academy, finished third.
For the under-15 girls, Nandana Sandeep of the Indian High School won the top spot, Siddhi Agarwal of GEMS Modern Academy placed second, and Ishika Roshan of the Indian High School came third. In the boys' category, Akshaj Kumar of Credence High School secured first place, Dhruv Bhatt of the Indian High School second, and Aryan Wadhwa of GEMS Modern Academy third.
In the under-17 category, Deeksha Naveen of the Indian High School took first place, Shreya Joshi of The Indian International School, DSO second, and Bhargavi Dhavala of GEMS Modern Academy third. For the boys, Reuben Alexander of J GEMS Modern Academy claimed the title, followed by Daksh Baldawa, also of GEMS Modern Academy, in second, and Joel Simon Thomas of the Indian High School in third, reflecting high skill levels and strong sportsmanship among the young athletes.
High-level skills in the golf championship
The golf tournament, held at the world-class Els Club, also concluded with notable performances from top young golfers selected based on the UAE Golf Federation rankings. In the primary school division, Bente W of Safa Community School excelled with 51 Stableford points, achieving first place and one of the highest scores in the history of the games. Aodhan F of GEMS First Point School came second, and Morgan T of Kings school Dubai finished third.
In the secondary school division, Brighton College dominated with Ralif N taking first and Thomas W second, while Lara B of The International School of Choueifat claimed third place. The competitions showcased exceptional talent and highlighted the advancement of golf within Dubai's school sports programs.
Issa Sharif, Director of Sports Events at the Dubai Sports Council, emphasized the importance of the games as a platform for discovering and developing young talent in schools. He said: “We are delighted with the wide participation and the high standard of performance displayed by students across all tournaments. This reflects the commitment of educational institutions to sports and the Council's dedication to empowering students. We remain committed to supporting events that promote healthy practices and nurture a generation of competitive athletes, particularly within schools that form the foundation of Dubai's sporting future.”
Paris Li, General Manager of Midea Appliances Middle East & Africa, stated that the company's support reflects its belief in the value of sports for building character and fostering creativity among youth, highlighting the private sector's commitment to Dubai's community and sporting objectives.
Marco Vocale, Commercial Director of ESM, added: “We witnessed impressive performances and talents worthy of nurturing and support. The growing participation underscores the successful collaboration between the Dubai Sports Council and schools in creating a safe and motivating sporting environment for students.”
The MIDEA Dubai Schools Games are supported by a number of partners and sponsors, including Volkswagen – Al Nabooda Automobiles, Careem, Almarai, Al Ain Water, and Clive Media Production, while ESM oversees operational management, technical supervision of the tournaments.
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