Marri and Javier Garcia Lopez storm into NAS Padel Championship quarter-finals
Players in action during a Padel Championship match of the Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament 2022 on Monday.
Gulf Today, Staff Reporter
Saeed Mohammed Al Marri and Javier Garcia Lopez stormed into the quarters-finals as some exciting clashes took place in the Padel Championship on the third day of the Nad Al Sheba (NAS) Sports Tournament 2022.
Held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Council Executive Director of the Emirate of Dubai, and organised by the Dubai Sports Council, the NAS Sports Tournament has been one of the top sporting attractions during the Holy Month of Ramadan since 2013.
Marri and Garcia Lopez dominated the proceedings from the start, defeating Abdulkarim Alarif Abdulla Abdulkarim and Farhan Hudda Hudda 6-0, 6-1 in the first match of the third day in the Emirati and Expat categories.
Khaled Belhoul Alfalasi and Emilio Misas downed Mohammad Ahmad Ahli and Masson Xavier 6-2, 6-3.
Khalid Alshamsi Abdullah and Andres Perez Vera faced some anxious moments before overcoming their rivals Mohammad Al Shamsi Ali and Xavier De Benito Fraile 6-2, 4-6, 10-8.
In another thrilling clash, Naser Al Ketbi and Javier Santonja were taken a distance by Ali Al Arif and Martin Noschese before prevailing 7-6, 5-7, 10-6 to book their spot in the last eight.
Salem Alhouli Ali and Javier Quiros Garcia, Roberto Rodríguez Roberto and Fares Al Janahi Al Janahi, Mohammed Aljanahi Aljanahi and Claudio Bobadilla Eduardo also advanced into the quarter-finals.
In the intermediate men’s category, Yousuf Arif Abdulaziz and Nasser Al Blooshi, Jonathan Alan Green and Ameesh Kalan Kalan, Nour Nehme Nehme and Fahad Janahi Abbas, Rabie Al Merstani and James Richard Maughan, Fernando Méndez Fernando and Enrique Gonzalez also reached the quarter-finals.
The volleyball and wheelchair basketball competitions will kick off on Wednesday. Fohood Zabeel will square off against HMS Group in the opener, which will start at 9.30pm. Bin Thani will face Surprise team in the next match.
Eight teams, including Zabeel, HMS Group, Fohood Zabeel, Spider Team, Dubai 2020, Dubai 2021, Al Suraha Emperor, and Bin Thani, are in the fray.
The wheelchair basketball tournament will be held at the Dubai Club for People of Determination. Four matches are scheduled for Wednesday. The Khorfakkan Club for the Disabled will meet the Dubai Police General Command team and the Dubai Municipality team will meet the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority.
Dnata will face the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs in Dubai, and the team of the Department of Finance will face the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services in a late clash. The Al Thiqa Club for the Disabled and the Al-Bustan Center and Residence team are also taking part in the competition.
Meanwhile, Dubai Municipality renewed its partnership with Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament. They joined the roster as main sponsor of the ninth edition of the event.
The sponsorship agreement was signed at the headquarters of the Dubai Sports Council in the presence of Saeed Hareb, Secretary-General of the Dubai Sports Council, and Jaber Al Ali, Assistant Director-General of the Support Services Sector in Dubai Municipality.
Hareb emphasized that the Dubai Municipality is a strategic partner of the Dubai Sports Council and it is one of the national institutions that contributes to the happiness of community members, as well as making great contributions to support and enhance the sports sector.
Ali, Executive Director of the Support Services Sector, said: "Dubai Municipality is keen to participate as a sponsor of the current edition of the Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament, as the municipality's sponsorship is in support of the course's success, in which athletes of various ages and nationalities from both inside and outside the country compete, and to highlight it as one of Dubai's most prominent tournaments and events.
"Dubai Municipality has always looked forward to sponsoring the tournament in recognition of its importance and position as a prominent national event, and we are pleased to have the honor of sponsoring this edition of the session this year, which we are confident that it will achieve greater success and wider resonance with athletes and fans thanks to the continuous development in its activities and programmes and the level of expertise," he added.
"Our wise leadership has paid great attention to the sports sector in the Emirates, as it is an essential sector of life, and influencing the growth and welfare of society, the happiness and health of its members of different nationalities.
"Our leadership also provides the sports sector with all the support that helps it achieve its important goals related to development, growth, character building and the adoption of an optimal healthy lifestyle, which is consolidated in this session through the sports that it includes and providing an opportunity for young people and all segments of society to meet in the atmosphere of the holy month.”
