A 43-year-old Indian expat in the UAE died of a cardiac arrest in Ajman after a routine badminton session on Wednesday night, just days after another compatriot collapsed and died while playing cricket in Dubai, his family has confirmed.

Anwar Sadiq, a father of two from Kerala who had lived in the UAE for around 15 years, had gone for his regular game of badminton with a group of friends on the night of June 17, his brother-in-law told Gulf News over the phone from Kerala.

During the session at a court in Ajman, he complained of pain in his left hand and stepped away from the court. Apparently, his blood pressure was normal, the brother-in-law said.

“He then rested for a while and had a lemon soda before deciding to head home. But he reportedly collapsed in his car in the parking area,” he added.

Fellow players, who rushed to help, called an ambulance and attempted first aid while waiting for emergency services, but Anwar could not be revived, said Anas M, one of his neighbours back home, living in the UAE. 

He said the death notification cited cardiac arrest as the cause of death at 9.51pm.

Anas said Anwar had grown up close to his home. “His house back in Kerala is just three houses away from mine and we had carried that same sense of closeness into our lives in the UAE.

He said Anwar was a regular at badminton sessions. Though soft-spoken, he was known to be active within his own circle.

Quiet, yet cherished

“He was like an elderly brother to me,” Anas said while paying his tribute. “He was a quiet person but active in his own circle. Anyone would like him when they meet him first,” he recalled.

Anas said the turnout at Anwar’s embalming and final prayers on Thursday night, and at his funeral back home on Friday afternoon after the Juma prayer, reflected the affection people had for him.

Young family shattered

Anwar worked as a procurement manager at a company in Sharjah while he lived with his family including his wife and two school-going children in Ajman.

His mother and two younger sisters live back in Kerala. The loss carries a particular ache for the family: his father had also died of a heart attack while he was in Kuwait, more than ten years ago.

Community volunteers supported the family in repatriating his mortal remains to Kerala, where he was laid to rest in his hometown, the brother-in-law said. Apart from Anwar’s family, some relatives based in the UAE also flew home for the funeral.

Second death in three days

Anwar’s death came days after Safwan Shanu, a 38-year-old expat from Karnataka, died of a heart attack while playing cricket at a parking lot in Al Garhoud, Dubai, on Sunday morning.

As reported by Gulf News, Safwan had scored 46 runs and hit six sixes that morning before collapsing at the non-striker’s end without any prior warning. He is survived by his wife and four young children, including a baby daughter who is just four months old. (Gulf News)

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Sri Lankan badminton sensation, Viren Nettasinghe, is set to compete in two key tournaments in the Northern Mariana Islands ahead of his participation in the Paris Olympics.

Nettasinghe, Sri Lanka’s top ranked shuttler who is currently placed 75th in the world, will take part in the Northern Marianas Open from July 2-7 and then the Saipan International Open Badminton Tournament 2024 from July 9-13. Both tournaments will be held in the picturesque town of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands.

The two BWF Grade 3 International Challenge Tournaments, both offering a prize pool of $15,000 each, are expected to attract top talent from around the world. Sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Badminton Oceania, both tournaments are hosted by the Northern Marianas Badminton Association.

Nettasinghe, who recently made history by becoming the youngest Sri Lankan to directly qualify for the Olympics, is gearing up to showcase his skills on yet another prestigious international stage when he competes as the top seed in the men’s singles events at the Western Pasific nation.

The Northern Marianas Open will see the singles Round of 64 and the Round of 32 events taking place on July 2 and 3, while the Pre-quarter-finals will be held on July 4. The quarter-finals will take place on July 5, followed by the semi-finals next day, culminating in the gold medal matches on July 7.

Opening rounds of the Saipan International will take place on July 10, followed by the Round of 16 the next day. The Quarter-finals will take place on July 12, while the Semi-finals and Finals will be held on July 13.

Nettasinghe’s participation in the two tournaments in Saipan will provide him with the opportunity to further hone his skills and gain valuable experience against some of the world’s best players, serving as a critical preparation ground for the Lankan star as he sets his sights on the upcoming Paris Olympics which officially kicks off on July 26. (Newswire)

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