Stephane Michel (second left), Managing Director of Total E&P Qatar and Tariq Darwish Zainal (third left), Assistant Secretary General of Qatar Tennis Federation (QTF) shake hands after exchanging agreement documents during a press conference at Al Dana Club yesterday. Yousef Al Nesf (left), Public Relations Manager at Total E&P Qatar and Sultan Khalfan, Local Tournaments Director at QTF are also seen. PICTURE BY: SHAIVAL DALAL
DOHA: The country’s top 55 boys and girls will compete at the Total Qatar National Junior 2013 Youth tournament which gets under way tomorrow, Qatar Tennis Federation (QTF), said yesterday.
Yesterday’s press conference at Dana Club also saw gas and oil company, Total sign a partnership with the QTF to become the main sponsor of the five-day event.
The tournament, which will take place at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, will involve six categories for the boys. These are: Under-8s, Under-9s, Under -10s, Under-12s, Under-14s and Under-18s.
Meanwhile, four categories will be contested in the girls’ event – Under-8s, Under-10s, Under-12s and Under-14s. The tournament, that ends on February 5, will feature singles and doubles matches.
Tariq Darwish Zainal, Assistant Secretary General of QTF said: “The group of 55 players are the best players of Qatar. These are the players that represent Qatar during the Gulf and Arab competitions.”
With no Under-18 category for the girls in this year’s event, Zainal said that he hopes it will be added in the future tournaments which will allow the young tennis players to gain experience.
Zainal said: “We want the girls to start growing with us (in this competition) and play in the big future tournaments. We have the Under-8s, Under-10s, Under 12s and Under-14s, so in the future we will have Under-18 events which will help girls play on the world tour.”
Due to the International Tennis Federation (ITF) rules, the winners of the respective categories will not receive any prize money, but will instead receive gifts up to the value of $750, according to the ITF rule book.
Speaking of the partnership with Total, Zainal said: “The QTF is proud to partner with Total in the Total Qatar National 2013 Youth Tournament. Total’s continued involvement in community initiatives is highlighted by their support of this youth tournament.”
He added: “The future of Qatar tennis is on display during this event and the Qatar Tennis Federation takes pride in growing the game and creating the stars of tomorrow.”
Stephane Michel, Managing Director of Total E&P said his company are proud to be the main sponsor of a tournament that will help the young Qatari players reach their potential by competing locally and internationally.
Michel said: “Total is proud to reinforce its partnership with the Qatar Tennis Federation by becoming the main sponsor of the Qatar National Junior Tournament 2013. We are confident that Total’s sponsorship will help expand the interest and popularity of tennis amongst the youth in Qatar.”
“Supporting sports and Qatari youth is a main part of our corporate social responsibility program as it is a major contribution to social development, the fourth pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030,” he added.
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