France’s Milena Surreau’s main goal at the 6th Fazza Dubai 2025 Para Badminton international was to get her new classification. Three years after playing in the women’s Standing Lower – SL4 category, Surreau competed in her first international tournament in SL3.
She broke new ground reaching the final of her first SL3 event – beating Australia’s Celine Aurelie Vinot 21-14 21-14 in the semifinals.
A former musician and salt marsh worker, Surreau – who has lived with autism since the age of four – has been promoting Para sport through her Podcast channel and her latest episode talks about her condition. “Since as a teenager I had the symptoms, but nobody believed me. I met a doctor who diagnosed neuro disease and it’s progressing. It’s a rare neurological disease that causes fatigue, loss of power of the limbs and muscle.”
Milena Surreau with her coach
“Through my Podcast, I am trying to promote Para sport. Many people ask me about my condition – I’m playing in Standing events and use a Wheelchair in my daily life. I’m trying to talk about the rare condition and creating awareness.”
Having started playing the sport in 2022, Surreau has two silver medals from the Spain International 2023 and European Championships, and she hopes to get one better in Dubai.
She aims for a medal at the European Championships this year, but the long-term mission remains the LA 2028 Paralympics.
“The road is very long to LA – but we are already preparing towards that goal.”
Surreau will face Ukrainian Oksana Kozyna, the Tokyo 2022 world champion, in the finals on Sunday. “She (Oksana) is really strong – she always really wants to win, a big quality of her. I can’t wait to play the finals.”
Vikram Kumar in Two Finals
Fourteen years after making his international debut, Umesh Vikram Kumar seems to have found his best form right now.
On Sunday, top seed Vikram Kumar will be playing two finals at the Dubai 2025 Para Badminton International – his first time in four appearances. He played his last finals at the Egypt Para Badminton International, settling for two silver medals early this year.
In the men’s singles SL3 semifinals, the Indian got the better of Korea’s Joo Dongjae 21-18 21-9 before winning a thrilling doubles game.
He combined with Suryakant Yadav to overcome a second game scare before defeating promising Koreans Cho Nadan and Lee Seunghu 21-15 17-21 21-12 in the last four stage of the men’s doubles SL3-SL4 event.
At 34, the shuttler from Jamshedpur is taking every tournament as his last and giving his 100 per cent. “After missing out on the qualification for Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, I feel this is my best and last chance to qualify for the Paralympics in Los Angeles. And I am taking each tournament as my last and giving my all to win it.”
Good Day for Korea, Turkiye
It was a great day for Korea as the team booked seven finals, including five in Wheelchair events. Seasoned and Paris 2024 stars Choi Jungman (MS WH1, MD WH1-WH2), Kim Jung Jun (MS WH2, MD WH1-WH2), Yu Sooyoung (MS WH2, MD WH1-WH2) besides Jung Gyeoul (WS WH2, XD WH1-WH2) all reached two finals each.
It will be an all-Korean affair in men’s singles WH2 and men’s doubles WH1-WH2 events at the Shabab Al Ahli Club on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Turkiye made three finals with their seasoned world and European medallist Emine Seckin reaching two title matches in women’s singles Wheelchair WH2 and mixed doubles WH1-WH2.
“I made the most of the time between tournaments by focusing on high-quality training. As a result, it is incredibly rewarding and it’s a wonderful feeling to reach the fianls of two events in Dubai,” said Seckin who has a bronze from the Spain Para Badminton International Level 1.
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