QTSBF Secretary General Tariq Zainal (left) and Chief of Strategy and Business Development Division at Qatar Rail Ajlan Eid Al Enazi shake hands after the signing ceremony yesterday.
DOHA: Two new tournaments - the QTSBF Qatar Rail Tennis Open Tournament and the Qatar Rail Squash Team League - have been scheduled to give the national team players more exposure and prepare them for international competitions, a top official said yesterday.
Yesterday, Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton (QTSBF) and Qatar Railways Company announced details of the two new events that kicked off this week. As per the new agreement, Qatar Rail will sponsor a week-long local tennis tournament and a team squash league set to last 10 weeks.
Addressing a press conference QTSBF Secretary General Tariq Zainal yesterday said: “It is a pleasure to launch a new chapter of cooperation between Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton and Qatar Rail Company regarding the two local tournaments in squash and tennis”
Zainal stressed that this cooperation is to develop tennis and squash in Qatar by supporting the Qatari athletes and providing them with opportunities to acquire more experience.
“Qatar Rail’s support to these two local events comes as a part of the social responsibility of the company and its positive contribution to the development of the community” he added.
Speaking to The Peninsula, Zainal said they have approached a few schools in Qatar with a view to enroll them for long term coaching programmes.
“We have a definite vision where we are heading to. We are happy that we have our own Abdulla Al Tamimi as one of the top ranked player on the squash circuit. The World No.23 is a role model and an inspiration for many of the young players. Hopefully we will have more players of his caliber in the near future,” he said.
“Next year’s World Championship in Qatar will hopefully inspire more young players to take the game and become professional players,” added Zainal.
Chief of Strategy and Business Development Division at Qatar Rail Ajlan Eid Al Enazi also present for the press conference.
He said:”Qatar Rail Company keen to be an active partner in developing the community and supporting the Qatari sport as it has a positive impact on young people. The company also aims at encouraging the Qatari community to practice physical activities and promoting the culture of sports as Qatar Rail Open tournament comes in this regard.”
The first edition of the QTSBF Qatar Rail Squash Team League began yesterday at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex and features six teams comprising of players from Qatari national team and Aspire Academy. Matches are held on Tuesday every week and the tournament will last 10 weeks. Players from the senior team to boys under-11 will be seen in action in the league.
Meanwhile,the first edition of the QTSBF Qatar Rail Tennis Open Tournament began on Monday at the same venue.
The event brings together 231 players including 89 players from national teams.
The event will feature different age groups including boys and girls under 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, and 18 years in addition to Men, Women and veterans’ events and will conclude on November 29.
