News DeskDubai, UAE – The table tennis and golf tournaments of the 2025–2026 Midea Dubai Schools Games concluded this week, celebrating another milestone in Dubai’s growing school sports movement.
Organised by the Dubai Sports Council (DSC) in cooperation with the Ministry of Sports, the Ministry of Education, and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), and operated in partnership with ESM, the Games have become the emirate’s largest inter-school sports initiative.
This season’s edition has drawn more than 25,000 students from schools across Dubai, competing in 25 sports over more than 100 days of events — a scale that underscores Dubai’s drive to cultivate a culture of sporting excellence among young people.
Table Tennis: Skill and Sportsmanship on Display
At Danube Sports World, the table tennis tournament brought together 231 students from 30 schools, with more than 500 matches played across six age categories for boys and girls.
In the under-13 girls’ division, Aradhya Budhiraja of GEMS New Millennium School took the top spot, followed by Ishika Gopinath of Cambridge International School and Anushka Rajesh Nair of GEMS Our Own English School.
The under-13 boys’ title went to Raghav Agarwal of GEMS Modern Academy, with Izaan Muhammed of The Indian International School, Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) finishing second, and Vivaan Vinod Darak, also of GEMS Modern Academy, taking third.
In the under-15 category, Nandana Sandeep of The Indian High School emerged champion among the girls, while Akshaj Kumar of Credence High School led the boys’ standings.
The under-17 titles went to Deeksha Naveen of The Indian High School and Reuben Alexander of GEMS Modern Academy, reflecting a consistently high standard across divisions.
Golfers Impress at Els Club
At the prestigious Els Club, Dubai’s young golfers delivered equally impressive performances.
In the primary school division, Bente W of Safa Community School claimed victory with 51 Stableford points — one of the highest scores in the competition’s history. Aodhan F of GEMS First Point School finished second, while Morgan T of Kings’ School Dubai placed third.
The secondary school category was dominated by Brighton College, with Ralif N and Thomas W taking first and second respectively. Lara B of The International School of Choueifat secured third place.
Leaders Praise the Program’s Growth
Issa Sharif, Director of Sports Events at the Dubai Sports Council, said the level of participation and talent highlighted the Games’ success as a platform for discovering and developing young athletes. “We are delighted with the wide participation and the high standard of performance displayed by students,” Sharif said. “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.”
Paris Li, General Manager of Midea Appliances Middle East & Africa, said the company’s involvement reflected its belief in the positive impact of sport on youth development. “Our support demonstrates Midea’s commitment to building character and creativity among young people,” Li said. “We are proud to contribute to Dubai’s vision of an active, community-driven sporting culture.”
Marco Vocale, Commercial Director at ESM, praised the athletes’ performances and the collaboration between stakeholders. “We witnessed impressive performances and talents worthy of nurturing and support,” he said. “The growing participation underscores the success of the partnership between the Dubai Sports Council and schools in creating a safe, motivating environment for students.”
The Midea Dubai Schools Games are supported by several partners and sponsors, including Volkswagen – Al Nabooda Automobiles, Careem, Almarai, Al Ain Water, and Clive Media Production. ESM oversees operational management and technical supervision of all tournaments.
