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Former World No.1 badminton player and renowned coach Mathias Boe visits World Padel League; discusses Padel’s appeal and growth in India

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With the World Padel League’s India debut in full swing at the Nesco Center in Mumbai, former World No.1, 2012 London Olympic silver medalist in badminton and former coach of India’s top doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, Mathias Boe made a special appearance at the competition on Thursday.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Boe shared his perspective on the growth of padel in India. He said, “Even more courts are coming up and there’s an ongoing discussion in many clubs about converting other courts into padel courts. The growth reminds me of what I’ve witnessed in Denmark, where the sport emerged from nothing, just 6-7 years ago.”

A regular padel player himself, Boe said, “I am not one of the best you have seen, but yeah, of course I was born with a racquet in my hand. Padel is relatively easy to pick up for beginners as well and that’s why the sport is also growing so rapidly.” He added, “It is a good mix because it’s merging all the sports. It’s like you have the glass from squash, then you have the ground strokes from tennis, and you also have the overheads from badminton. For badminton players, the advantage comes from the smashing and footwork. The doubles aspect requires a stronger partnership in communication and teamwork as well.”

Under Boe’s coaching, the duo of Satwik and Chirag achieved several memorable victories worldwide. These include a bronze medal at the 2022 World Championships, gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, gold at the 2023 Asian Games, and gold at the Asian Championships, amongst other accomplishments.

Drawing from his coaching experience with India’s top doubles pair, Boe said, “Obviously my advantage was as a player I was tactically quite good, so often that tactical aspect I was able to bring in. For Satwik and Chirag especially, that was maybe what their game plan needed.”

He further added, “When you have dedicated your entire life to something, then obviously it’s not so difficult to spot the gaps. You need to understand how to talk to people differently. Chirag is a Mumbai boy, Satwik is from Andhra, so their personalities are also very different.”

The league stage concludes on February 7, with Game Changers Lions taking on Sohail Khan Ent. Panthers in the first match and the SG Pipers Cheetahs facing Vernost Jaguars in the second. The top two teams from the overall points table will compete in the finals on February 8.

The Meteora Developers World Padel League is being broadcast to a global audience, reaching various countries. Sports enthusiasts can catch the action live on:

Styx sports: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal

Myco: GCC, Egypt, Pakistan

Sony Sports Ten 1; Fancode (OTT): India

Padel TV: Scandinavia and UK

Rest of World: Stupa Analytics

Tickets for the matches are available on District by Zomato.

As a trainee reporter and creative lead, I focus on curating engaging content and managing the social media presence for the company. I aim to connect audiences with relevant, impactful news through multiple digital platforms.

Entertainment

Emirates Dubai 7s 2026: Tickets on sale as festival returns with bigger family zone

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Emirates Dubai 7s is returning to The Sevens Stadium from November 27 to 29, with tickets now on sale for the three-day sports and entertainment festival.

The 2026 edition will bring together international rugby, amateur sports, live music and family entertainment, with organisers promising a bigger programme than previous years.

The festival attracted more than 88,000 visitors in 2025 and will again take place during the final weekend of the Dubai Fitness Challenge.

Ticket prices

Ticket prices for General Admission and Hospitality have stayed the same for a third consecutive year.

Three-day General Admission tickets cost Dh595 per person, while the three-day Family Pass is Dh1,136 for two adults and two children.

Other ticket options

  • Group pass: Dh446 per person for four or more adults
  • Saturday or Sunday: Dh455
  • Friday: Dh75
  • Under 15s: Free
  • People of Determination + carer: Dh375

Tickets can be purchased through the Emirates Dubai 7s website and app.

Bigger family attractions

Family entertainment will get a major boost this year as the UAE celebrates the Year of the Family.

The festival will feature its biggest-ever Kids’ Zone, including the UAE’s largest inflatable kids’ zone, along with a Ferris wheel and zipline. More attractions are expected to be announced ahead of the event.

Six sports and top rugby action

Alongside elite rugby, visitors can watch or take part in competitions across six sports — rugby, netball, cricket, WODON3 fitness, Rebound padel and Gaelic Football.

Gaelic Football will join the festival for the first time in 2026.

The Sevens Stadium will also host the opening round of the HSBC SVNS Series 2027, bringing the world’s leading rugby sevens players to Dubai.

The WODON3 Elite final will take place on Pitch 1 between HSBC SVNS matches, with competitors potentially performing in front of crowds of up to 20,000.

Music all weekend

Live entertainment will run throughout the festival, with local and international artists performing across three days.

Last year’s line-up included Tinie Tempah, Sean Paul and Fisher, while the 2026 headline acts will be announced later.

For a premium experience, The Sunroom returns with all-inclusive food and drinks, shaded seating, prime sporting views and dedicated access. Packages start from Dh1,925 per person.

With sport, music and family attractions packed into one weekend, Emirates Dubai 7s is gearing up for another big Dubai event.

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Abu Dhabi to host first EuroLeague Basketball SuperCup: How to get tickets from Dh572

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Abu Dhabi is set to make basketball history this September as it hosts the first-ever EuroLeague Basketball SuperCup, bringing four of Europe’s top clubs together for a two-day showdown at Etihad Arena.

Taking place on September 18 and 19, 2026, the inaugural tournament will feature Real Madrid, Olympiacos Piraeus, Fenerbahce Tarfin Istanbul and Dubai Basketball in a Final Four-style competition.

The event is being delivered through a partnership between the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Euroleague Basketball, adding another major international sporting event to the capital’s growing calendar.

Two days, four teams and one new trophy

The action gets underway on Friday, September 18, with two semi-finals.

  • 6pm: Olympiacos Piraeus vs Fenerbahce Tarfin Istanbul
  • 9pm: Dubai Basketball vs Real Madrid

The winners will advance to Saturday night’s championship game, while the losing teams will meet earlier in the day for the third-place match.

On Saturday, September 19:

  • 6pm: Third-place game
  • 9pm: Inaugural EuroLeague Basketball SuperCup Final

The winner will make history as the first team to lift the new trophy.

Abu Dhabi adds another major basketball event

The tournament builds on Abu Dhabi’s growing reputation as a destination for elite basketball. The capital has hosted a number of major basketball showcases in recent years, helping bring some of the sport’s biggest clubs and stars to UAE audiences.

The new SuperCup will also give fans the chance to see Dubai Basketball compete against some of the biggest names in European club basketball, including Real Madrid.

DCT Abu Dhabi said the event forms part of the emirate’s wider strategy to expand its international sporting calendar while attracting visitors and creating opportunities for local businesses and communities.

Euroleague Basketball President Dejan Bodiroga described the competition as a new chapter for European club basketball, while CEO Chus Bueno said Abu Dhabi would provide fans with an opportunity to experience the sport at its highest level.

Tickets

Full-package tickets are already available through Etihad Arena, while single-day tickets are scheduled to go on sale on August 31.

EuroLeague SuperCup Prices

Ticket categoryPrice
Baseline Upper Bowl 2Dh572
Baseline Upper Bowl 1Dh668
Central Lower Bowl 2Dh1,338
Central Lower Bowl 1Dh1,434
Hollywood 2 HospitalityDh9,188
First-row BenchDh7,751
First-row CourtsideDh10,911

Event details

Where: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi
When: September 18–19, 2026
Teams: Real Madrid, Olympiacos Piraeus, Fenerbahce Tarfin Istanbul, Dubai Basketball
For tickets, go to www.etihadarena.ae


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Dubai robotics team earns global recognition at elite US competitions

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A Dubai-based student robotics team has put the UAE on the global STEM map after securing a major award at one of the world’s leading robotics competitions and earning an invitation to an elite international event in the US.

Team UFORCE, representing Unique World Robotics (UWR), finished third in the prestigious Inspire Award category at the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Michiana Premier Event, held in Indiana from June 18 to 21.

The Inspire Award is FTC’s highest judged honour, recognising excellence in robot design, engineering, programming, innovation, teamwork and community impact. Team UFORCE competed against 96 top robotics teams from around the world.

Invited to exclusive global event

Following its strong performance, Team UFORCE also competed at the Multinational Tech Invitational (MTI) in Maryland, an invitation-only competition featuring just 44 of the world’s best FTC teams selected from more than 11,000 active teams globally.

Showcasing UAE STEM talent

The 16-member team includes students from schools across Dubai and Sharjah, highlighting the UAE’s growing talent in robotics and engineering.

“This achievement reflects the dedication, innovation and perseverance of our students and mentors,” said Bansan Thomas George, founder of Unique World Robotics.

Head coach Mohammed Mukhtar said competing on global platforms demonstrates the ability of young innovators from the UAE to excel internationally.

Team captain Aarnav Bhargava described the competitions as a valuable opportunity to develop technical skills, teamwork and confidence while competing against some of the world’s best robotics teams.

About FIRST Tech Challenge

FIRST Tech Challenge is one of the world’s largest youth robotics programmes and is supported by organisations including Google, Amazon and NASA.

The programme also offers students access to scholarships, mentorship opportunities and pathways to leading universities and STEM institutions.

The achievement also reflects the growing impact of firstrobotics.ae, a UAE volunteer-led robotics community that supports students interested in robotics, artificial intelligence and STEM education.




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