Prakriti Bharath’s Racquet Journey From Hobby to the BWF World Championships Stage

BWF World Championships 2026: In a country where cricket and football command the spotlight, badminton has often been content to play a quieter role in the United Arab Emirates. But away from the roar of packed stadiums, the racquet sport is steadily carving out its own space. Interestingly, the Indian origin shuttler is one of the winds of change in her country.

During the post-match media interaction, Bharath was cheerful and optimistic about the growth of Badminton and said, “Badminton is coming up a lot now, and the federation over there has also been very supportive of the players,s and they are helping us a lot in coming up and sending us for tournaments.”

The UAE Badminton Federation, which is supporting the elite-level shuttlers, has also been funding the players, which has been a very big encouragement for players to pick up the racquet sport.

For Prakriti Bharath, competing at the World Championships is about more than simply representing the UAE. Born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Bharath later moved to the Gulf and is now based in Dubai, where she has been part of the UAE national team for around a year and a half. Despite living abroad, her Indian roots remain close to her heart.

“I am from Tamil Nadu, but I was settled in the Gulf. I live in Dubai right now and have joined the national team there. I have been playing for a year and a half now, representing the UAE,” she said.

Bharath was born in Chennai and took up badminton almost by chance, initially seeing it as nothing more than a hobby. “I just started it as a hobby,y and I loved the game, and it just continued,” she recalled. But this shift from hobby to a serious career choice would not have been possible without the unwavering support from her parents.

“My mom and dad are very supportive. They come with me for all my tournaments, and even if I lose, they are very encouraging and keep pushing me very hard. I think where I am now is because of them,” Bharath said.

Yonex UAE Elite Athlete Program

Bharath’s progress has also been aided by the UAE’s structured approach to developing badminton talent. As part of the UAE Elite Athlete Program, she has access to quality equipment, international coaching and high-level training facilities designed to prepare players for the demands of the global circuit.

“I have been with Yonex UAE for a year now, and they have been very supportive with the kit, clothes, rackets, shoes, everything,” Bharath said.

Besides active support in accessories, the federation has also tried to provide international coaching experience to shuttlers like Bharath. Currently, the UAE’s national training centre is headed by Danish coach Michael, while Indonesian coach Ahmed is also part of the setup. “The facilities are very good, and we all train together over there, so it’s very good,” she said, highlighting the collaborative environment that has become an important part of her development.

Shift From Qatar To UAE

Interestingly, Bharath’s badminton genesis started out in Qatar,r where she picked up the racquet from the age of six. However, she later moved to the UAE to take the next step in both badminton and education.

While this transition has been fueled by her studies, she also highlighted the lack of opportunities in Qatar presently. “Qatar does not have a proper team yet. I think they are working on that. But since I moved to the UAE for my university, I decided to continue here.”

From picking up a racquet as a six-year-old in Qatar to representing the UAE on badminton’s biggest stage, Bharath’s journey mirrors a sport quietly finding its voice in the Gulf.