DUBAI: The International Federation of Padel Championship (Rise category) got underway with most of the international favourites easing their way into the next round of competition of the 11th Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament.
Leading the field of 46 men’s and women’s teams, and watched by Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, President of the Emirates Padel Federation, it was the pairing of Xavier Masson and Jorge Hernan Tupayachi Llanos opening their campaign on a winning note on the opening night at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex hall in the FIP Rise Dubai Padel Championship.
The championship will continue till 24th March.
With nine matches worked out on the opening night, it was Masson and Llanos displaying a fine combination to oust Alejandro Chaveli Canovas and Alvaro Clemente Jimenez 6-2, 6-4 to ease their way into the next round.
Arthur Hugouneno and Pierre Vincent came up with an equally dominant showing to beat Saif Al Hammadi and Qasim Al Sherafi 6-0, 6-1, while Romain Sichez and Philipp
e Francois Martelli struck good form while skipping past Khaled Megdiche and Khalil Ben Lallahom 6-2, 6-2.
Rodrigo Aza Casaseca and Mikel Blanco Dorao were always in a hurry following their 6-0, 6-1 win against Mahmood Al Attar and Ahmad Al Muhairi, while Arsham Moradi Nejad Marian and Sohrab Darafshi Ghahroudi were made to work hard before securing a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 win against Ramtin Fatoorechi and Aria Jafar.
Sebastiao Mendonca and Plinio Ferrao had a tough outing before coming from behind to win 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 against Philip Orloff and Ivan Lopez Munoz, while Martin Martinez Perez and Hugo Caparros Basterra kept off the pair of Agustin Molinero Fernandez and Alexis Jesuan Gonzalez Dalbene 6-1, 6-7, 6-4 to advance to the next round.
Other winners on the night were the pairing of Javier Navarro Rodriguez and Julian Lacamoire, easing past Bohdan Levchuk and Danyil Yevdokimov 6-2, 6-3, while Ignacio Gonzalez Gadea and Javier Puerto Elvira beat Oliver Szakacs and Andre Biro 6-2, 6-1.
Launched and supported by
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, the 11th Ramadan Sports Tournament will conclude with the volleyball final on 31st March.
Held under the directives of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, the largest sports tournament of its kind during the Holy Month of Ramadan at the NAS Sports Complex is conducted under the slogan ‘Limitless Capabilities.’
Organised under the auspices of the Dubai Sports Council (DSC), this year’s sports fiesta has nine different sports disciplines, including Volleyball, Padel, Jiu-Jitsu, Fencing, Wheelchair Basketball, Road Race, Cycling, Tug-of-War, and an Obstacle Challenge Race.
Volleyball Excitement Next
Meanwhile, teams for the Volleyball competition have already commenced their practice sessions in preparation for the competition which will get underway at the main hall of the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex from 22nd March.
There are eight teams
participating, with Group A consisting of Zabeel, The Emperor, Fohood Zabeel, and Alameed, while Group B comprising of Al Jawareh, Zabeel, HMS, and The King.
Friday’s opening encounters will see Zabeel facing Fohood Zabeel, while The Emperor will take on Alameed. On the following day (23rd March), matches from Group B will be held with HMS playing Al Jawareh, while Zabeel will be up against The King.
There will be a rest day for teams following the conclusion of preliminary round matches on 27th March. The semi-finals will be played on 29th March, followed by the fight for third place on 30th March and the final on 31st March.
Obstacle Race to End Today
More than 400 participants will know their fate at the end of the Obstacle Challenge Race when the winners are announced on Thursday.
With AED290,000 on offer for the top finishers in the male and female categories, all eyes will be on the first-placed athletes and the AED100,000 that each champion is scheduled to walk away with.
The competition consists
of eleven obstacles over a distance of 400 metres in the fastest possible time, with a maximum time limit of four minutes.
Wheelchair Basketball
The qualifying matches of the wheelchair basketball will continue at the Dubai Club for People of Determination, with Mai Dubai facing Dubai Courts at 21:30 on Thursday, while Dubai Municipality will be up against the Roads and Transport Authority from 22:10.
The Community Development Authority team will meet Al Bustan Centre and Residence at 22:50, followed by the match between Dubai Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship versus Dubai Electricity and Water Authority at 23:30.
Source: Emirates News Agency