MANAMA: The curtain came down yesterday evening (Sunday) on the competitions of the fourth Arab Masters Tennis Championship with the crowning of the Tunisian player Aziz Dugaz with the title of the competition for the second time in a row after beating his Syrian rival Hazem Al-Naw 2-1 by 7-6, 1-6, 1-6 and (10-3) in the final match held at the Public Security Officers Club in the Bahraini capital Manama, under the patronage and presence of the Bahraini Minister of Interior Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to the Kingdom of Bahrain Sheikh Thamer Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah and President of the Arab Tennis Federation Sheikh Ahmed Al Jaber Al Abdullah Al Sabah and the President of the Bahrain Tennis Federation Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Mubarak Al Khalifa.

Sheikh Ahmed Al Jaber expressed his pleasure for the great success achieved in the tournament from the technical, organizational and media aspects, thanking the Bahraini Minister of Interior for his presence and sponsorship of the closing ceremony of the tournament.

Sheikh Ahmed Al Jaber said that the fourth edition appeared in a wonderful and professional manner in light of the fruitful cooperation with the Bahraini Sports Federation, which harnessed all its capabilities to make this Arab sports event a success. He extended his sincere thanks to the President of the Bahraini Federation, Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, for all the efforts exerted in this tournament, which is sponsored by the National Bank of Kuwait and KGL, and thanked the Bahraini Ministry of Interior and the Public Security Officers Club for hosting the championship, adding that “this is not strange for our Bahraini brothers who are used to good organization and generous hospitality.”

Sheikh Ahmed Al Jaber announced that the fifth edition will be held in the Kingdom of Bahrain, adding that the Bahraini brothers succeeded with distinction in organizing one of the best editions of the tournament, which encouraged the Arab Federation to entrust the organization of the next edition to the Bahraini Federation.

Sheikh Ahmed Al Jaber stressed that the Arab Federation is keen to continue this tournament on an annual basis due to the gains and technical benefits it has achieved for Arab players, thanking the management of BeIN Sports for its efforts in broadcasting the final of the strongest Arab tennis tournaments, and praising the efforts made by the officials of the Arab Federation and all the organizers and partners of success.

Sheikh Ahmed Al Jaber also thanked Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait, the main sponsor, and KGL for their support of the tournament, stressing that the support provided by them contributed to the continuation and development of the tournament.

The President of the Arab Federation congratulated the winners of first places in this edition, praising the high level shown by the players in all roles of the tournament, noting that the champion of the competition will receive a Wild Card that entitles him to participate in the Marrakech International Tournament.

The closing ceremony of the tournament was attended by the Vice President of the International Tennis Federation and President of the Tunisian Tennis University, Dr. Salma Al Molhi, President of the Egyptian Tennis Federation, Ismail Al Shafei, President of the Palestinian Tennis Federation, Dr. Maha Rasem Jarrad, Vice President of the African Union, Aziz Larraf, Secretary General of the Arab Federation, Ali Lafi Al Mutairi, Secretary General of the Arab Federation, Walid Sami, President of the Jordan Tennis Pioneers Club and member of the Pioneers Committee in the Arab Federation, Ahmed Qaddumi and a number of Bahraini Federation officials.