Fatma, Carol emerge champions of padel tourney

HH Sayyid Fahr bin Fatik bin Fahr al Said presided over the closing ceremony of the first edition of International Paddle Tournament, at the stadiums of the Paddle Smash Club in Muscat on Saturday.

22 teams participated in the men’s level, while 8 teams participated in the women’s level.

Oman’s star tennis player Fatma al Nabhani and team-mate Carol won the women’s category title at the expense of the Spanish duo Elisa and Sarah in a tough match that ended in two games to one.

In the third set, the result was close, and mistakes abounded on both sides. However, Fatma showed her experience to win the third set 6-4 to claim the title.

Fatma is the top ranked Arab player in the padel tournament.

Other than Fatma, six Omani women’s teams also took part in the tournament.

Fatma said: “I am very happy to win the title of the International padel championship, which was held on National Days and on the homeland. We feel great pride in winning the title after a continuous effort. I felt great pressure, especially at the beginning of the final, because I had not played a championship on my land for nearly 13 years. However, I managed to get back to my level and win the title.”

“I would like to thank all those who supported my brothers Muhammad and Khaled, and I thank Smash Club for the wonderful hosting and organisation, and thanks to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Oman Olympic Committee, and to the sponsoring companies Mohsen Haider Darwish, Vodafone, Khimji Ramdas and Oman International Hospital, and to all the supporting media,” she ended.