Omani athletes Younis and Muneer al Rawahi have transitioned from their longstanding tennis careers to the emerging sport of padel, seeking to establish new successes on regional and international stages. The brothers, who were among Oman’s top tennis players, have faced challenges in promoting padel locally due to the absence of official clubs and a structured national league.

Both siblings had notable tennis careers representing Oman in various competitions. Younis al Rawahi reached the Davis Cup finals in the Asia/Oceania zone four times, securing the title in Muscat in 2018, and earned multiple medals at Gulf and West Asian levels. Similarly, Muneer al Rawahi reached the Davis Cup finals once and captured several Gulf titles across age groups, along with victories in the Oman Open and club championships.

Their introduction to padel came from different circumstances but shared a common enthusiasm for the sport’s rapid growth in the region. Younis’s interest was sparked during a visit to Bahrain, where he participated in a major tournament alongside a Kuwaiti partner and finished second, fueling his passion for padel. Muneer was introduced to the game by friends and was motivated by the increasing frequency of tournaments and competitive opportunities.

Since making the switch, both brothers have achieved significant results in padel. Younis has won titles such as the Wilo Championship in Saudi Arabia and the Al Wali Open Padel Championship, which featured players ranked among the world’s top 60. He has also performed strongly in the Saudi Padel League and topped Oman’s ranking tournaments. Muneer has secured victories in Qatar and Oman, including the Mohammed Al Barwani Gulf Padel Championship, often competing alongside his brother.

Despite their progress, the Al Rawahi brothers have pointed to the need for greater institutional support to develop padel in Oman. They note that while private sector initiatives have helped, there is a critical demand for more tournaments and a formal league structure to enhance competition and support player development.

Looking ahead, the pair plan to increase their presence in leading international padel events and consider overseas training camps to further improve their game. They continue to represent Oman through the World Padel Academy (WPA Oman). Although some regional tournaments in the Gulf and West Asia have experienced delays attributed to the current security situation, the brothers remain focused on maintaining their form and achieving new milestones in padel.