Doha: Aspire Academy student-athlete Hassan Waly, partnering Spain’s Javier Bolumar, clinched the under-18 title at the FIP Promises Oeiras tournament in Portugal, marking a historic milestone for Qatari padel.
The triumph represents Waly’s first title on the FIP Promises circuit and the first-ever victory by a Qatari player at a European event in the category.
The FIP Promises series, organised by the International Padel Federation, features competitions across age groups from under-12 to under-18, aimed at nurturing emerging talent through high-level international exposure.
Seeded sixth, Waly and Bolumar delivered an impressive run, overcoming higher-ranked opponents en route to the title. After receiving a first-round bye, the duo cruised past Spain’s Mario Brocal and Jaime Rodriguez 6-2, 6-2 in the round of 16.
In the quarter-finals, they took the opening set against second seeds Francisco Goncalves Da Silva and Goncalo Liberato Costa before the Portuguese pair retired. The pair then advanced to the final after defeating Argentina’s Lautaro Dos Santos Sueyro and Valentin Villalba 6-4, 6-3 in the semi-finals.
The final proved to be their toughest challenge, as they faced top seeds Juan Carlos Gutierrez Guerrero and Mario Martinez Guerrero of Spain. The match was tightly contested, with Waly and Bolumar ultimately prevailing in a decisive tiebreak.
Aspire Academy Head Padel Coach Mariano Amat praised Waly’s composure in crucial moments.
“The final was a long and closely contested match, ultimately decided by a lengthy tiebreak,” Amat said.
“Hassan showed real composure under pressure, making a decisive impact at the net and with his overhead play during the key moments of the match.”
He added that the victory reflects the player’s growing maturity on court.
“This result reflects not just talent but the competitive maturity we aim to develop — the ability to manage tight situations and make the right decisions when it matters most,” he noted.
Amat also highlighted that Waly’s progression remains ongoing, with further improvements expected as he continues to gain experience on the international stage.
Waly is set to compete next at the FIP Promises Athleticans II tournament in Cairo, Egypt, starting April 20, where he will once again team up with Bolumar.
The upcoming schedule, according to Amat, provides valuable opportunities to combine international competition with structured training.
Meanwhile, several Aspire Academy padel players are preparing to travel to Spain for training at the Sompadel Academy in Madrid, where they will train alongside top players in their respective age groups as part of their ongoing development programme.
