The fifth leg of the Mashreq Padel Tour, the country’s first dedicated community tournament series for amateurs, drew an unprecedented turnout this weekend with the UAE Padel Association (UAEPA), the governing body for the sport across the UAE, saying it “surpassed all expectations”.
Taking place from September 8-10 at Padelae Club, the largest indoor padel tennis club in the UAE, the fifth round of the eight-round tour featured three competitions: UAEPA 10-Men, UAEPA 100-OPEN, and UAEPA E&E (Emirati & Expat).
With the UAEPA 10 boasting prizes of AED 4,000 AED, AED 3,000 AED, for first and second place teams respectively, as well as AED 1,000 AED for third and fourth-place teams, Essa Alshaibani and Ishaan Choubalclinched victory over Ranjan Pradeep and Pascal Jasha Saas with a score of 2-0 in the final.
In the UAEPA 100 event where the audience witnessed high-level action, the top four teams claimed AED 12,000 AED, AED 6,000, AED 2,000 and AED 2,000 AED respectively. Javier Garcia Lopez and Sergio Icardo took the top spot after a score of 2-0 victory against Fermin Ferreyra and Jordi Casanova in the final.
Finally, in the UAEPA E&E final Abdulla Alabdulla and Martin Noschese beat Fares Al Janahi and Jordi Casanova with a 2-0 victory in one of the most exciting matches of the tournament.
Eisa Sharif Almarzooqi, Head of Finance of the UAEPA, said: “The calibre of padel we witnessed at Padelae Club this weekend surpassed all our expectations. The overwhelming turnout of quality and players across the various divisions demonstrates the growth of padel across the country over the past few years. Hosting dedicated amateur competitions such as the Mashreq Padel Tour helps spark even more interest in the sport and develop the playing experience for all involved.”
Across the globe, padel is growing steadily and the UAE is no different. In a little less than a decade, more than 350 public and private padel courts have been set up across the country, making it by far the fastest-growing sport in the Emirates. The Mashreq Padel Tour 2023 stands as testament to the commitment of the UAEPA to nurture a resilient and all-encompassing padel community, where individuals from diverse backgrounds can converge and share their love for the sport.
To find out more about the Mashreq Padel Tour 2023 or to enter a tournament, visit: www.uaepa.ae.
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