The FIP World Cup Africa-Asia Qualifiers reached a fever pitch on Day 4 in Kuwait City, as Indonesia and Egypt secured their tickets to the upcoming World Cup in Doha. While the women's qualification spots were finalized through intense head-to-head battles, the men’s bracket remains undecided, setting the stage for a high-stakes final showdown.
Key Results and Qualification Updates
The women’s competition saw two nations punch their tickets to Qatar, highlighted by a major upset from the Indonesian squad. The path to qualification for the successful teams unfolded as follows:
- Indonesia’s Victory over Japan: In a stunning turnaround from their recent Asian Games loss, Indonesia secured their spot by winning two of three matches. Putria and Sabatini opened the tie with a comeback win against Kitao and Kutsuna (4-6, 6-4, 6-2). Although Japan’s Tokumoto and Kushima leveled the series by defeating Armini and Kusuma (6-2, 6-3), the Indonesian pair of Sabrina and Gumulya clinched the qualification with a decisive 6-4, 6-3 victory over Ozawa and Tsukamoto.
- Egypt’s Women Qualify: Egypt solidified their place in the World Cup by sweeping their tie against Tunisia in straight sets. Faidallah and El Halaby took the first match 6-3, 6-4 against Jeribi and Hamrouni, while Tawfik and El Nimr closed the door on Tunisia with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Chamli and Allani.
- Men’s Semi-Finals: Australia advanced to the final by defeating Morocco, with Bechard and Melisi winning 6-4, 6-4 against Reda and Fertat, and Velickovic and Benzal dominating their match 6-2, 6-1 against Mekouar and Sakkat. Meanwhile, Egypt’s men moved one step closer to a double-qualification by beating Kuwait. Zaghloul and Wakim overcame a slow start to defeat Redha and Behbehani (3-6, 6-1, 6-3), and their teammates secured the tie with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Shams and Muhammad.
With the women's bracket settled, all eyes now turn to the final day of the qualifiers. The men's final between Australia and Egypt will determine the last remaining spot for the World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in Doha from November 2 to 7. Fans can catch the action live on the International Padel Federation’s YouTube channel, with the match set to begin no earlier than 2 pm local time.
