The UAE Wild Card Championship concludes with nine teams qualifying to participate in the World Padel Tour Modon Abu Dhabi Padel

The Emirates Post Group UAE Wild Card Championship towards the World Padel Tour Modon Abu Dhabi Padel Master, which will be held from 21 – 26 February has concluded with the UAE National tournament winners Abdulla Alabdulla and Fares Aljanahi, Alia Taher and Aisha Alawadhi, receiving wild card entries to the main draw of the World Padel Tour Modon Abu Dhabi Padel Master Tournament. This will mark the first time in history for Emirati male and female teams to compete in the main draw of a World Padel Tour tournament. In addition, 16-year-old Emirati prodigy Abdulla Alabdulla will become the youngest male player to compete in a WPT master tournament in the history of the tour.

Nacho Gadea and Martin Noschese emerged as the champions in the men’s category of the UAE Residents Open, while Angela Caro and Sol Perez claimed the title in the women’s tournament. In the GCC Residents Open, Emirati Abdulla Ahli and Navid Fahandezh won the men’s tournament, and Omani Fatma Al Nabhani and Carolina Gallo Frias took the women’s championship. The UAE National tournament frontrunners, Salem Alhouli and Saeed Al Marri, and Shaikha Aljanahi and Nouf Omar, were awarded the remaining two spots for the male and female teams, respectively. In addition to the coveted wild card entries, the six winning teams from the UAE Wild Card Championship were each awarded a cash prize of AED 10,000.

Emirates Post Group also awarded an additional wild card slot to one of the top-performing teams – Naser Al Ketbi and Mubarak Al Ketbi, in an effort to recognise the high calibre of padel witnessed during the championship.

HE Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said: “We have seen the popularity of padel in the UAE increase year on year, so we had to offer such unique opportunities to the UAE padel community, such as the World Padel Tour Modon Abu Dhabi Padel Master Tournament, which will be held next week at Bab Al Nojoum on Hudayriyat Island and witness the participation of the world’s top-ranked players.”

“We congratulate all the winners and wish them the best of luck at the World Padel Tour Modon Abu Dhabi Padel Master,” he added.

Abdulla Mohammed Alashram, Group CEO of Emirates Post Group said: “The success of the UAE Wild Card Championship is incredibly significant as it brought on unprecedented and historical wins. Emirates Post Group is proud to sponsor such an opportunity for regional talent, supporting the growing padel community and providing a platform for UAE, and wider GCC, representation at the world’s most prestigious padel tournament.”

Namir Hourani, Managing Director of GMOL Events, said: “The Emirates Post Group Wild Card Championship has made history as it marks the first time both male and female Emirati players will compete in the main draw of a World Padel Tour tournament, with the youngest male competitor for the Master tournament in the tour’s history being from the UAE. This is a true testament to the growing talent and potential in the region.”

“We applaud all the talented players that have participated, the passionate UAE padel community for their unwavering support, and our partners Emirates Post Group, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the UAE Padel Association, and Modon Properties for making the event a success. We look forward to welcoming the championship winners and fans to the Modon Abu Dhabi Padel Master on Hudayriyat Island in Abu Dhabi.”

The Emirates Post Group UAE Wild Card Championship was held across three weekends in Sharjah, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi, with an exhilarating final round that took place on Sunday, 12 February, at Abu Dhabi Padel Hub at the Zayed Cricket Stadium. The riveting sporting spectacle was made much more exciting by a captivated audience rooting for the participants.

Sponsored by Emirates Post Group (EPG), in partnership with the UAE Padel Association (UAEPA) and Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the UAE Wild Card Championship presented over 190 competitors from the UAE and wider GCC competing for an opportunity to face some of the world’s top-ranked players at the World Padel Tour Modon Abu Dhabi Padel Master. The Emirates Post Group UAE Wild Card Championship was organised by Global MICE Organisation Limited (GMOL Events).

The World Padel Tour Modon Abu Dhabi Padel Master – the first World Padel Tour ever to be held in the UAE’s capital – will take place from 21 – 26 February at Bab Al Nojoum, Abu Dhabi’s luxury campsite on Hudayriyat Island, a leading leisure destination by Modon Properties which has quickly become one of the most thrilling sporting destinations in the UAE. The qualification rounds of the WPT Modon Abu Dhabi Padel Master will take place from 18 – 20 February at 321 Sports on Hudayriyat Island.