Manama: General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior, attended the closing ceremony of the 5th Arab Masters Tennis Tournament, organised by the Ministry of Interior in collaboration with the Bahrain Tennis Federation (BTF) and the Arab Tennis Federation for the second consecutive year.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the event took place at the Police Officers Club courts and was graced by several dignitaries including Saleh bin Isa bin Hindi Al Mannai, Advisor to HM the King for Youth and Sports Affairs; Sheikh Ahmed Al Jaber Al Abdullah Al Sabah, President of the Arab Tennis Federation; Lieutenant General Tariq bin Hassan Al Hassan, Chief of Police; Dr. Abdulrahman Sadiq Askar, CEO of the General Sports Authority (GSA); Shaikh Abdulaziz bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, BTF President; Salma Mouelhi, Vice President of the International Tennis Federation (ITF); and Shaikh Khalid bin Rashid Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Ministry of Interior's Standing Committee for Tennis.
Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah highlighted the significant role of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa's patronage in bringing remarkable achievements to Bahraini sports, positioning the Kingdom as a prime location for major sporting events both regionally and internationally. He also acknowledged the unwavering support and initiatives led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, along with creative contributions from His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS), in nurturing national talents and fostering an environment of excellence.
The Interior Minister emphasized that hosting the tournament in Bahrain continues the Kingdom's legacy of sporting successes, citing the recent fourth edition of the Ministry of Interior ATP Challenger Tennis Tournament, which earned the accolade of Best ATP125 Tournament Organisation globally, marking a first for the Gulf Cooperation Council states.
He praised the tournament's organisation and the cooperation among involved entities, which bolsters Bahrain's standing on the international sports stage. He further appreciated the players' performance and sportsmanship, and expressed gratitude to the BTF, the Arab Tennis Federation, the ministry's Standing Committee for Tennis, and the Police Officers Club for their cohesive efforts contributing to the tournament's success and enhancing its global reputation.
The final match, witnessed by Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah, attendees, and tennis enthusiasts, featured an increase in participation with 24 players from 10 Arab countries. Tunisian player Aziz Waqa, ranked second in the Arab region and 652nd worldwide, claimed the title by defeating Jordanian Mohammad Al Qutb with scores of 7-6, 6-2.