Hamad Al Darmaki will lead the UAE delegation to Malaysia, with Shaker Ali as coach and Abdullah Taljabini as interpreter. The six bowlers are training at Dubai International Bowling Centre ahead of the championships, scheduled for 3 to 10 October 2026. The dates are set.
Training targets concentration and consistency, along with technical and physical readiness. Abdullah Khalil Ahli, chairman of the UAE Committee for Deaf Sports, said the squad aims to show the progress of deaf sport in the UAE.
Al Rai Media reports that the Penang championships bring together teams in athletics, bowling, table tennis and chess, making the event a multi-sport competition.
Six bowlers named for the Malaysia event
The team comprises Ayman Al Meqbali, Matar Al Romaithi, Tariq Shehab, Mohammed Al Essaidi, Adnan Al Jabri and Walid Radwan.
The UAE's national karate squad recently returned from the Asian Juniors and U21 Championships with nine medals. Read the report on its Asian campaign.
Preparation now centres on performance stability
The bowling team is part of the National Paralympic Committee's programme of overseas competition for UAE deaf athletes. At the Dubai camp, the players can refine their game before the continental event. Staff oversee their preparation and communication within the delegation.
The Penang championships are part of a wider pattern of international competition for deaf athletes. This is not a one-off event.
Al Rai Media reported that Kuwait is sending eight teams across four sports to the Penang championships. The outlet also described the preparation as aimed at achieving a 'worthy representation' of the country and expanding the presence of deaf sport on the Asian stage.
Al Rai Media and LiveHindustan also list 3 to 10 October 2026 as the competition dates and Penang as the venue. The Dubai camp is the squad's main measure of readiness before the event. In Penang, the players will need to carry their technical work and focus into consistent performances. That is the test.
