Draw places Qatar in Group ‘C’ with France, Chile and Uruguay

The draw for the 2024 FIP World Padel Championships, held at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex in Doha yesterday, saw holders Spain and 11-time champions Argentina start as favourites in their respective groups in the men’s category.
As many as 32 of the world’s top men’s and women’s teams will be in action at the event being hosted by the Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation (QTSBF), for a second time since a highly successful edition in 2021.
The draw took place in the presence of International Padel Federation President Luigi Carraro, and QTSBF Secretary-General and Tournament Director Tariq Darwish Zainal among other key officials. The teams were drawn into four groups each in men’s and women’s divisions.
Argentina, who have featured in all but two finals of the World Championship since its inception in 1992, will be aiming for their 12th men’s title as they start their journey in Group A, along with Belgium, Italy and USA.
Group B is led by the four-time champions Spain, along with Paraguay, Mexico and the UAE.
France, the bronze winners in 2022, are placed in Group C, with hosts Qatar along with Chile and Uruguay look to challenge the European giants.
‘Group of Death’ Group D features heavyweights in Portugal, Brazil, the Netherlands, and Sweden, and promises to feature intense clashes.
Meanwhile, following the huge gain in popularity for Padel in the country, Group C contenders Qatar are ready to showcase their growing talent on the international stage. Led by the seasoned coaching duo, Pablo Nicolas Sisti and Martin Luciano Bogarin, the team consists of a mix of seasoned players and emerging talent. The Qatar squad includes Abdulla Alhijji, Amr Hassan, Rayyan Aljufairi, Mohammed Abdulla, as well as experienced players like Jabor al-Mutawa, Hassan Adel Waly and Mohammed Saadon al-Kuwari.
Qatar’s group stage starts today when they face Chile at the centre court. In their second match they will face tough opponents France, before wrapping up the group stage with another crucial encounter against Uruguay on October 30.
“We are in for a fantastic tournament with 32 teams that will keep us thrilled,” commented FIP President Luigi Carraro after the draw.
“It’s true that Spain and Argentina are still the favourites, but it’s also true that over the last two years, the other national teams have grown tremendously, and now they’re all at an amazing level. This will be an incredible edition,” he added.
The women’s draw opens with Spain, champions in 2022 and European champions in 2024, leading Group A with Germany, Brazil, and Chile. After a second-place finish in Dubai, Argentina is the top seed in Group B, joined by Portugal, the United States, and Egypt. Italy, aiming once more for a podium finish, is in Group C with Sweden, Uruguay, and Japan; Group D is also highly anticipated, as four European teams — Belgium, France, Netherlands and Denmark — will compete to pass to the next stage.