Doha: The Qatar Tennis, Squash, Padel and Badminton Federation has announced that Qatar will send a strong contingent of athletes to compete in squash and padel at the 20th Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026, scheduled to be held in Japan from September 19 to October 4. The federation has high hopes for its athletes to excel and elevate Qatar's sporting presence on the continental stage.
According to Qatar News Agency, Qatar's participation in the Asian Games is notable, especially as padel is set to make its official debut at the event. The Qatari national team plans to leverage its recent achievements in regional, continental, and international tournaments to vie for top honors.
In squash, the national team aims to contend for gold in both individual and team categories, capitalizing on the experience and skills gained through previous Asian and international competitions. The federation has announced the squash delegation, which includes head coach Amir Wagih Radwan, team manager Nasser Ahmed Al Obaidli, and players Abdullah Mohammed Al Tamimi, Syed Azlan Iqbal, Salem Youssef Al Malki, and Ali Ahmed Al Darwish.
The padel team, led by coaches Pablo Nicolas Sisti and Florencia Sofia Galdo, includes male players Rashid Nawaf Naif, Mashari Nawaf Naif, Hassan Adel Wali, and Mohammed Saadoun Al Kuwari, as well as female players Maha Abdulridha Falamarzi, Hanan Hassan Al Abdulrahman, Maryam Mansour Al Sultan, and Dana Mohammed Al Mudahka.
Qatar's squash hopes are pinned on Abdullah Mohammed Al Tamimi, who has an impressive track record at both continental and international levels. Al Tamimi aims to return to the podium after winning bronze in the men's singles event at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. He has also achieved significant success in other prestigious tournaments, including a silver medal at the 23rd Asian Squash Championships in Malaysia in 2025 and victories in several international competitions.
In the padel arena, Qatar will draw on the experience gained since the sport was officially included under the federation's umbrella in January 2020. The Qatari padel team secured silver at the inaugural Asian Padel Championship in 2025 and gained a historic qualification to the World Cup in November 2021. They also claimed the Gulf Padel Challenge Cup in 2022 and continued their winning streak at the Gulf Games in Doha.
Ahead of the Asian Games, the Qatari national squash team has undergone rigorous training camps to enhance their physical and technical prowess. They have also engaged in competitive friendly matches to refine their skills. Similarly, the padel team's preparation has focused on strengthening team dynamics and building on recent successful performances.
Tariq Zainal, Secretary General of Qatar Tennis, Squash, Padel, and Badminton Federation, expressed confidence in the teams' readiness for the Asian Games. He highlighted the players' experience, technical abilities, and progress as key factors in their potential success. Zainal also emphasized the federation's commitment to fostering the development of racket sports in Qatar and promoting future generations' participation.
The Qatar Olympic Committee has announced that Qatar will send a delegation of 243 athletes to the Asian Games, with participation spanning 26 sports and 32 disciplines. The committee aims for outstanding results to further enhance Qatar's presence at the Asian Games.