Darwish carries UAE flag, dreams of a generation at AYPG

When Darwish Al Rashidi sprinted across the track carrying the UAE flag during the Dubai 2025 Asian Youth Para Games (AYPG) promo video, he had no idea that the moment would make him one of the most recognisable young faces of the event.

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The video went viral, and suddenly, this shy table tennis player from the UAE became a symbol of pride, courage, and youthful spirit.

At just 12 years old, Darwish is stepping into one of the biggest moments of his young life - representing the UAE for the first time at the Dubai 2025 AYPG. With a quiet smile and a spark of excitement in his eyes, he walks into the venue not just as a competitor, but as a child discovering who he wants to become.

Darwish's journey into sports began unexpectedly. When asked how he started playing table tennis, he laughed and admitted: “My mother told me to come to the club. I didn't want to come at first. Then I changed my mind, and when I went, I started to like it.”