“Al Habtoor Local Tennis Challenge” concludes its tenth edition… and is preparing for next year with a new date

Ibrahim Abu Shaheen was crowned champion of the Pioneers category of the 10th Al Habtoor Local Tennis Championship, while Gulien Maison came in second place.

The top spot in the women’s category went to Karina Ogorodnikova, at the expense of her competitor, Isabelle James, who finished in runner-up position.

Hossam Yazdi took first place in the men’s category, followed by Giovanni Samaha in second place. The first- and second-place finishers were also honored in the under-12, 14, and 16-year-old categories for boys and girls, in addition to the under-18 category for young men and women.

In this regard, the organizing committee took a decision to reconsider holding the Al Habtoor Tennis Championship for locals next year, to be held during the mid-year school holiday, in an effort to expand the participation of the largest number of local players and residents of the country.

Tournament Director, Noura Badawi, explained that the Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge Championship believes in the importance of this event, which is organized in cooperation with the Emirates Tennis Federation, and considers it an important platform to open the field to national players of all ages, in support of the national teams, while also providing the opportunity for residents to participate in it.

Badawi stressed that the organizing committee is keen annually to honor the top performers in the local championship during the coronation ceremony of the Al Habtoor International Challenge Championship, in a step aimed at motivating the players, both male and female, and motivating them to develop.

She pointed out that the tenth edition was held in conjunction with the 28th Al Habtoor International Women’s Tennis Challenge Championship, which limited its access to full media coverage, which prompted the committee to choose an independent date for the next edition to ensure it is highlighted and enhances the spread of the game among members of society.

Badawi expected an increase in the number of participants in the new version, especially with the date of the tournament coinciding with the school holiday, stressing that the announcement of its new version received great interaction and clear happiness from the parents of the male and female players.