Winners pose with the officials during the presentation ceremony.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The penultimate round of the inaugural Mashreq Padel Tour produced two days of pulse-raising action in Sharjah in what turned out to be a successful celebration of the world’s fastest-growing sport.

Organised by the UAE Padel Association (UAEPA), the governing body for the sport in the country, the amateur event garnered unprecedented participation, further showcasing padel’s burgeoning popularity within the Emirates.

The tournament was held at the World Padel Academy (WPA) in Sharjah from October 27 to 29, featuring intense competitions across two categories: UAEPA 100 – Open and UAEPA U16 – Boys. The UAEPA-100 Open event concluded with a thrilling final matchup, where Claudio bru Casaseca and Javi Puerto emerged as champions, securing a commanding 2-1 victory over Sebastiao Mendonca and Ali Dawani. The winning duo walked away with a prize purse of Dhs12,000, while second-place received Dhs6,000.

Saeed Al Marri, General Secretary of UAEPA, expressed his delight as the event successfully concluded.

“The overwhelming participation and remarkable display of skill at the Mashreq Padel Tour have once again underscored the growing passion for the sport in the UAE,” he said.

“This event is a testament to the dedication of our players and the unwavering support from the wider padel community, not just here in Sharjah but across the Emirates.”

Meanwhile, in the UAEPA U16 category, juniors showed a great performance until the final where Maktoom Al Ketbi and Hamad Al Kokhardi claimed the win against Yousef Al Hammadi and Abdulla Al Aqili with 2-0 score.

“The success of the country’s first dedicated community tournament series for amateurs marks a significant milestone in the journey of padel in the UAE. In June 2019, the UAE Sports Ministry officially recognised padel as a sport with full government support, and Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum was entrusted with the role of being the first President of the UAE Padel Association.”

“The official recognition and support have played a pivotal role in the growth and development of padel in the country, and events like the Mashreq Padel Tour are a testament to the sport’s rising prominence and the fact that noble efforts of the UAEPA are bearing the desired results,” Marri added.

The Mashreq Padel Tour will now move to the final leg of the season, scheduled to be held at Dubai’s NAS Sports Complex from December 8 to 10. The championship will feature three categories: UAEPA 10, UAEPA 100 Open, and Under 16 Boys.