Rodriguez, Gonzalez enter final Padel Championship

Francisco Javier Rodriguez and Ignacio Gonzalez battled past Roberto Rodriguez and Martin Nochese 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 to reach the final of the UAEPA 100-point open classification category of the Padel Championship at the 10th NAS Sports Tournament in Dubai on Tuesday.

Held under the theme ‘Limitless Abilities’ and organized by the Dubai Sports Council (DSC), the NAS Sports Tournament is the biggest event of its kind in terms of participation and prize money, and has been held every year in the Holy Month of Ramadan since 2013 at the iconic Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex.

In another semi-final match, Javier Garcia Lopez and Sergio Icardo Alcorisa defeated Abdulla Al Abdullaziz and Fares Al Janahi 6-0, 6-4.

The padel competitions are held in seven different categories, including the local category.

The local category consists of five classifications, including 10 points for men, 10 points for women, 100 points open, Emirati and Expatriate Open, and the youth category for players under the age of 16.

The highlight of the padel event is the inaugural NAS International Padel Championship, where eight teams, including hosts UAE, will compete.

Egypt, Qatar, Iran, Japan, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia are in the fray.

The UAE, Qatar, Japan, and Saudi Arabia share the same group, while Egypt, Iran, Kuwait, and Bahrain are in another group.

Meanwhile, one of the highlights of the NAS Sports Tournament, the NAS Cycling Championship, will take place on Thursday with the participation of more than 1,200 cyclists of different nationalities.

The Cycling Championship consists of nine categories and will be held on Meydan Street and in various locations across Mohammed Bin Rashid City over a distance of 77 kilometers.

The race also has competition for clubs and amateurs.

Mansoor Juma Buosaiba, president of the UAE Cycling Federation, hailed Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, for his unstinting support of sports and athletes.

Buosaiba also hailed the success of the Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament, which has reached its tenth edition.

“The NAS Cycling Championship has witnessed a significant growth in terms of categories and participant count.”

“In the 10th edition of the tournament, 1200 cyclists are taking part, which demonstrated the efforts of the organizing committee that helped the number of participants rise, which left a brilliant imprint over the course of ten years.

“The tenth edition is seeing a new development to increase the number of groups and also increase community participation, opening the door for all groups of society to participate, as well as the participation of people of determination, a group that receives great interest in Nad Al Sheba.

“We always look forward to the session every year by adding new categories that encourage an increase in participants,” added the UAE Cycling Federation President.

“The national team cyclists and club athletes will compete in the elite category of the race. The UAE now has more than 30,000 practitioners thanks to such events and the numerous tracks developed in Dubai and other Emirates of the nation. Of course, the race is an opportunity for the athletes to test their skills, as it is one of the strongest races due to the participation of a large number of different nationalities.”

Buosaiba also thanked the Supreme Organizing Committee of the NAS Sports Tournament for their efforts and hosting an event of such stature.

“The success of the NAS Sports Tournament and the professionalism displayed in hosting it highlight the prowess of the organizing committee,” he added.

Through the tournament, the committee aims to boost the eminent role of competitions to spread the culture of the exercise of sport and enhance promising athletes’ skills and technical performance.

The volleyball competition will begin on April 1. A wheelchair basketball competition will take place from April 1 to April 9 at the Dubai Club for People of Determination.