Gulf Today, Staff Reporter
As part of its efforts to diversify the sports and tourism strategies in the emirate of Ajman, the Ajman Tourism Development Department announces the launch of the second edition of the ‘Ajman Padel Tennis Tournament’ which will be held from Wednesday to Sunday, and comes as a step that contributes to reinforcing the emirate’s position as a favorable destination for sporting tourism.
The Ajman Padel Tennis Tournament will take place in special courts in Ajman that include Padel Square, Padel Long, Go Padel, and includes 6 categories for both locals and residents which are: men’s open C and D classifications, women’s open C classification, veterans category (above 40 years), father and son category, and juniors category. Around 400 athletes are expected to participate in this tournament, which will award cash prizes to the 1st three winners in each category.
The Ajman Tourism Development Department aims to focus in its agenda for this year on the diversity of sports event which attracts sporting tourism to the emirate, supporting the youth to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle which improves the quality of life, and encourage the competitive spirit among them especially in padel tennis which has witnessed a wide growth among youth in the country.
Khadija Turki, Acting Director General of the Ajman Tourism Development Department, said that organizing the “Ajman Padel Tennis Tournament” comes as part of Ajman Tourism’s social responsibility to encourage adopting a healthy, active, and happy lifestyle in the community, and pointed out that the main purpose of the sporting events and competitions organized by the department is to promote Ajman’s position as a leading tourist destination on the local and regional map.
“The sports scene in the emirate of Ajman is witnessing remarkable development by the day in terms of sporting events organized throughout the year,” she added.
Turki clarified that the rapid growth of this sport across the emirate is a result of the support provided to the youth and sports sectors, in addition to a proper infrastructure which provided specialized courts throughout the whole emirate, all of which led to an increase in the number of athletes practicing this sport and in the number of organized tournaments in the coun-try.
Turki assured that Ajman has demonstrated its capacity to organize all sorts of events and activities due to the great experi-ence it boasts in organizing and hosting entertainment, cultural, and sports events which has contributed to increasing confidence in the touristic experience offered for its visitors.
Padel tennis, which has gained wide international fame over the past years, is a unique type of tennis that is played within closed courts of an area equivalent to a quarter of a traditional tennis court. It is also considered as one of the fastest growing sports in the world and has become very popular in the UAE.
The tournament is supported by many agencies, of which are Dubai Sports TV as media sponsor, Saudi German Hospital in Ajman, 3W Healthcare, Rayaat Advertising, Makkah Group of Pharmacies, Head Padel, Lavish Perfumes, Gulfa Water, in addition to PSTV.