The Ministry of Interior Tennis Challenger is all set to start on Sunday at the Public Security Officers Club in Gudaibiya.
Held under the patronage of His Excellency Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the event will run from February 12 to 19 and is organised by the Public Security Sports Association.
The tournament's opening day will witness the preliminary round, in which 16 matches will be played, as 32 players will compete for 16 spots in the final round in the singles and doubles events.
Meanwhile, the tournament draw was held yesterday (Saturday) at the Regency Hotel. It was attended by 114 players, including two world rankings with higher rankings compared to the previous editions of the tournament - Australian 80th seed Christopher O’Connell and 84th Australian Jason Kubler.
The qualifying matches will witness 16 matches, the most prominent of which will be the game between Australian Jason Kubler and Italy's Stefano Travaglia.
Bahraini Yousef Qaed will meet Polish rival Daniel Michalski, while Russia's Bekkhan Atlangeriev will face Jordanian Abdullah Shelbayh, in addition to a strong confrontation between the Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis and Bosnian Nerman Fatic.
The President of the Public Security Sports Association, Col. Khalid Al Khayat, said that the event is part of the directives of HE Interior Minister and the follow-up of the Chief of Public Security, Lt-General Tariq Al Hassan. He said the club’s playgrounds had been equipped with all requirements that meet the new international specifications of the 125 championship.
He continued that the ministry has all elements to host such international championships in Bahrain, after the significant success of the previous editions of the game, as part of the endless support of HE Interior Minister.
On the sideline of the event, an exhibition will be held and open for visitors on Tuesday.
