Double delight as Spain men, women triumph

Spain’s men’s team celebrate with trophy after winning the Ooredoo Qatar Padel World Championship Saturday. The Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation (QTSBF) president Nasser al-Khelaifi crowned the winners with International Padel Federation chief Luigi Carraro, Executive Vice President of Ooredoo Group Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Thani and QTSBF Secretary-General Tariq Zainal attending the podium ceremony.

World No.1 Alejandro Galan and Juan Lebron on Saturday staged an outstanding performance as Spain clinched both men and women’s teams titles at the Ooredoo Qatar Padel World Championship. At the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha, Galan and Lebron beat their Argentinean counterparts Martin Di Nenno/Fernando Belasteguin 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 in the men’s final in two hours and 25 minutes, what was the longest match in the entire tournament, sending hundreds of Spain fans into raptures.Spain women’s team celebrate after defeating Argentina to clinch their sixth World title Earlier, Francisco Navarro and Arturo Coello had beaten Carlos Gutierrez / Agustin Tapia 6-1, 7-5 to give Spain 1-0 advantage in the men’s final. The Doha title win is Spain’s fourth in the history in men’s field. Also Saturday, Brazil blanked France 3-0 to win the third place in Doha. Earlier in the women’s final, World No.2 Alejandra Salazar and Gemma Triay led Spain to a 3-0 win over their traditional rivals Argentina to clinch their sixth World title. Salazar and Triay beat Silvana Campus / Claudia Jensen 6-2, 6-0 in 47 minutes. Paula Josemaria / Ariana Sanchez made it 2-0 for Spain with a hard fought win (7-6, 2-6, 6-4) in their second game despite a strong fightback from Delfina Brea / Aranzazu Osoro. In their 13th World Championship final, the Spanish team did not even have to play the third game against the Argentinean pair Virginia Riera/Julieta Bidahorria, handing Marta Ortega/Patricia Llaguno a default win. Italy clinched the third place after beating France 2-1 in the play-off. Meanwhile, Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation (QTSBF) president Nasser al-Khelaifi said he was happy with the success of the tournament as he crowned the winners. Luigi Carraro, President of the International Padel Federation, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Thani, Executive Vice President of Ooredoo Group, also participated in the podium ceremony. Al-Khelaifi said: “The tournament is the most successful in the padel’s history. The participants and officials were pleased with Qatar’s hosting of the event. I want to extend my thanks and appreciation to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani for attending today’s final.” Al-Khelaifi said the unlimited support of the Amir was behind the impressive success of the tournament. He also thanked HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, for the support and assistance that also led to the success of the World Championships. Tariq Zainal, Secretary-General of the QTSBF, expressed his happiness with the success achieved by the tournament at various levels, stressing that the 2021 edition was the first time organised in Qatar, the Middle East and Asia.