Aspire Academy’s Waly wins FIP Promises Oeiras title in Portugal

DOHA: Aspire Academy student-athlete Hassan Waly, playing alongside Spain’s Javier Bolumar, won the under-18 title at the FIP Promises Oeiras event in Portugal. This is not only Waly’s first FIP Promises title but also the first for a Qatari player at a European event.

FIP Promises events are the International Padel Federation’s (FIP) tournaments for various age groups from under-12 to under-18, designed to develop young players through high-level international competition.

Waly and Bolumar, who were seeded sixth, impressed throughout the tournament, winning three matches against higher-seeded opponents.

They were given a bye in the first round, then beat the Spanish duo of Mario Brocal and Jaime Rodriguez 6-2, 6-2 in the last 16.

In the quarter-finals, Waly and Bolumar won the first set against second seeds Francisco Goncalves Da Silva and Goncalo Liberato Costa, before the Portuguese pair had to retire.Then in the last four, they overcame fourth seeds Lautaro Dos Santos Sueyro and Valentin Villalba, from Argentina, 6-4, 6-3.