Flores disappointed not to be taking part in NAS championship

Quique Sanchez Flores, the former Al Ahli and Al Ain manager, has saluted the organisers of the Nad Al Sheba sports festival for putting together such a glittering event and the Spaniard is hoping to take part in the tournament in the coming years.

Flores, who guided Ahli to Emirates Cup and President’s Cup success in his two years at the club, was visiting the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex with a few friends and stayed back to watch some of the night’s action and regretted the fact that he could not be taking part.

“This sports centre is amazing, really nice,” said Flores, who had to come to the complex for a game of padel tennis with his friends. “I was playing here with my friends during the year. I would have loved to play in this tournament, but I have to leave in two days (for Spain), so it would be impossible for me. But I would have really loved to be a part of this tournament.”

Asked if he would be back, perhaps, next year to take part, Flores said: “You never know. Maybe if I come back to visit friends and then of course.”

Flores is a keen padel tennis enthusiast and claims to play the sport at a “high level”, but futsal and squash, two other sports which are part of the NAS 2014 Ramadan sports festival, figure high among his interests as well.

Spain is among the leading futsal playing nations in the world and Flores is pleased to see some of the best players from his country join Brazilian superstar Falcao in promoting the sport here.

“I like every sport,” said Flores. “I play futsal, I play football, I play padel. I love sports… it’s my life.

“Futsal in Spain is really, really strong and I love the fact that one of our best players is here to promote futsal. We are creating links between UAE and Spain, which is one of the strongest countries in futsal.

“I think this is an amazing event. Everything is improving around sport here and it is amazing to see this. What is really impressive to see is so many people are here, enjoying different sport, and it is being held in the night.”

Flores was courtside on Tuesday night as Valencia defeated Duplays to move into the second round of the padel team’s competition, where they next meet Hala Madrid, who received a first round bye.

In the men’s open category, Nacho Llorente and Ramon Perez-Goicoechea cruised past Franciso Lopez and Francisco Javier 6-3, 6-2. Guillermo Villafane and Alberto Fernandez also had a comfortable 6-2, 6-1 outing against Hassan Sharif and Eissa Sharif.

In the UAE Nationals category, Mohammed Ahli and Abdullah Ahli blanked Sultan Al Ameri and Marwan Abdulgaffar 6-0, 6-0 and will next meet Mohammed Al Janahi and Fares Al Janahi, who received a walkover against Mahmoud Nader and Hamad Al Janahi.

On the squash courts, 3rd seed Asif Khan defeated Mohammed Shafiq Hammad 3-0 and next meets Sandeep Ramachandran, who was also a straight-games winner over Hassan Habib Bharmal.

The No 6 seed Jamal Al Barwani also needed only three games to down Mohsin Musa and setup a second-round clash with Niraj Makhija, who received a walkover in his match against Mangesh Shringgapure.

In other squash results, Faheem Khan beat Aroop Misra 3-2, David Eddie blanked Ashish Rochvani 3-0 and Markus Federle defeated Ammar Yasser Salem 3-0.

The Nad Al Sheba sports festival, which kicked off on June 29, has been attracting plenty of crowds, with not many willing to leave their seats till the curtains come down on the day’s proceedings with prize draws for fans.

Matthew Baz John, a cleaner, was one of the biggest winners of the opening nights, winning a return, business class ticket for two from Emirates. The Indian, father of two, could barely conceal his joy. Eid had come early for him.

There will be plenty of big prizes on offer over the coming days as well, including 11 business class return tickets for two to some of the best holiday destinations in the world, seven Mini Cooper cars, two Nissan Patrols and a swanky Range Rover Sport, which will be handed out on the final day – July 22.

More than 3,000 men and women will be taking part in the tournament over the coming days, competing for a prize purse that exceeds Dh6 million, thanks to the long list of sponsors which includes Emirates airlines, Al Tayer Motors, Dubai Duty Free, Meydan, Saeed and Mohammed Al Naboodah Group, Al Rostamani Group, Al Futtaim Motors, Emirates-NBD and Mashreq Bank.