Indian Expat Dies After Cardiac Arrest During Dubai Badminton Match
A 52-year-old Indian logistics manager died following a sudden cardiac arrest during a badminton game in Dubai.
Ranjith Vijayan, a 52-year-old Indian logistics manager, died after a sudden cardiac arrest during a badminton game in Dubai on Saturday morning, October 24, 2026.
The incident took place at an indoor school facility in the Dubai Land area. Vijayan had been participating in a casual two-hour badminton session, which ran from 8 am to 10 am, when he suddenly collapsed.
Emergency Response Efforts
Immediate life-saving efforts were made by colleagues and school security staff, who performed CPR on the scene. Although an ambulance arrived within five minutes, Vijayan was pronounced dead upon arrival at a private hospital.
A Long-term Resident and Professional
Vijayan was a long-term resident of the UAE, having lived in Ras Al Khor for 26 years. Professionally, he served as the General Manager for Logistics and Supply Chain at a Dubai-based engineering and industrial solutions firm, a role he held for 26 years.
Colleagues, including Santhosh Kumar Parayil and Tito Thomas, noted that Vijayan was a physically active individual who maintained healthy habits. They stated that he had no known heart conditions or prior symptoms during previous medical check-ups.
The company is currently assisting his family, which includes his wife, Rashmi, a UAE resident, and their son, Rithvik, who is pursuing higher education in India, with the repatriation of his remains.
A Pattern of Sudden Deaths
This tragic event marks the third reported sports-related sudden death among Indian expatriates in the UAE in 2026.
- June 14, 2026: 38-year-old Safwan Shanu died of a heart attack while playing cricket in Al Garhoud.
- June 17, 2026: 43-year-old Anwar Sadiq collapsed and died of cardiac arrest in an Ajman parking area after experiencing arm pain during a badminton session.
Potential Medical Factors
Medical experts suggest that several factors may contribute to such sudden cardiac events among expatriates in the Gulf region, including:
- Undiagnosed medical conditions.
- High-stress professional environments.
- Genetic factors.