Tennis duo Younis and Muneer embrace new chapter in padel

MUSCAT: Oman’s star tennis duo of Younis and Muneer al Rawahi have embarked on a new sporting journey, transitioning from a successful career in tennis to the rapidly growing sport of padel. The pair is aiming to achieve a new era of accomplishments at both regional and international levels despite the challenges facing padel in Oman, particularly the absence of official clubs and a structured national league.

The Al Rawahi brothers were among Oman’s top tennis players for many years, representing the Sultanate of Oman in various regional and international competitions and achieving many remarkable results particularly in team and age-group events. Their move to padel marked a significant shift, driven by passion and the rising popularity of the sport in the region.

For Younis al Rawahi, the transition came unexpectedly during a visit to Bahrain, where padel was gaining strong momentum. “It was purely by chance. I took part in a major tournament there with a friend from Kuwait, and we had managed to finish second. That result created a strong passion in me to continue in padel,” he said.

Younis enjoyed a distinguished tennis career, highlighted by reaching the finals of the Davis Cup in the Asia/Oceania zone four times, winning the title once in Muscat in 2018. He also claimed several medals at Gulf and West Asian levels and was ranked among the top players in Oman across different age categories.

In padel, Younis quickly established himself as a competitive player, winning multiple titles including the Wilo Championship in Saudi Arabia and topping the Oman ranking tournaments. Among his key achievements was winning the Al Wali Open Padel Championship, which featured players ranked among the world’s top 60, in addition to strong performances in the Saudi Padel League.

Younis and Muneer al Rawahi have won several titles in padel.

BROTHERS TASTE SUCCESS IN PADEL

Meanwhile, Muneer al Rawahi followed a similar path into padel after being introduced to the sport by friends. “The game was growing fast, with frequent tournaments and strong competition. That motivated me to continue and develop my level,” he clarified.

Muneer also built an impressive tennis resume, including reaching the Davis Cup finals once and winning Gulf titles across various age groups, in addition to securing the Oman Open title and club championships. His transition to padel has been equally successful, as he had claimed titles in Qatar and Oman alongside his brother, including the Mohammed Al Barwani Gulf Padel Championship.

Both players emphasised that daily training and consistent participation in tournaments are key to their continued progress. However, they highlighted several challenges facing padel in Oman, particularly the absence of official clubs and a structured national league. “The private sector is doing a great job, but we need more tournaments and a stronger system to increase competition and develop players,” the Omani pair noted.

Looking ahead, the Al Rawahi brothers are planning further international presence in the top padel events including potential overseas training camps, as they will continue to represent Oman through the World Padel Academy (WPA Oman). Despite some delays in regional tournaments especially in the Gulf and West Asian region due to the current security situation, their focus will remain on building form and achieving new milestones in the sport.