The FIP Asia Padel Cup began in Doha on Friday, with dominant opening day performances from Bahrain, China, Saudi Arabia, and Kazakhstan in the men’s competition. In the women’s draw, Lebanon, Indonesia, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia also secured crucial group stage victories at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex. The seven-day championship brings together top teams from across the continent vying for a spot in the final knockout stages.
Men’s Teams Secure Early Victories
In the men’s section, several teams established a strong position to qualify for the quarter-finals. Bahrain started its campaign in Group A with a convincing 3-0 win over a determined Indonesian side. The third team in their group, Kuwait, is scheduled to play next.
Other groups also saw clear victors. In Group B, China defeated Thailand 3-0, setting up a key match against Pakistan. Saudi Arabia achieved the same scoreline against South Korea in Group C, with Jordan being the final team in that pool. Group D featured two matches, where Kazakhstan beat the Philippines 3-0 and Lebanon overcame Japan in a closer 2-1 contest.
Only the top team from each of the four groups will advance to the last-eight stage. They will join the UAE, Qatar, Australia, and Iran, who have already qualified for the quarter-finals based on their FIP ranking.
Women’s Tournament Sees Strong Starts
The women’s competition was equally decisive on its first day. Lebanon delivered a strong performance in Group A, defeating the host nation Qatar 3-0 despite a spirited fight from the home team. The tournament highlights the growing participation of women in regional sports, a topic of increasing focus as seen at events like the recent inaugural ‘Women’s Executive Roundtable’ champions workplace wellness in Qatar.
In Group B, Indonesia recorded a comfortable 3-0 victory against Kuwait. Group C was more competitive, with the UAE edging out Pakistan 2-1 and Saudi Arabia securing a 2-1 win over China. The group leaders will move on to the quarter-finals, where they will meet the pre-qualified teams of Australia, Japan, Iran, and the Philippines.
Tournament Format and Schedule
The championship features 17 men’s teams and 14 women’s teams competing for the continental title. The initial group phase runs from October 17–19, with the top teams from each pool progressing to the Final 8 knockout stage, which is scheduled for October 20–24. The event is a significant fixture on the regional sporting calendar, reinforcing Doha’s status as a hub for major international competitions.
Play continues on Saturday from 1:30 pm, with key matches including Kuwait vs Bahrain and Pakistan vs China in the men’s section, and Thailand vs Qatar and UAE vs China in the women’s draw.
