Qatari brothers Rashid and Meshari Nawaf secured the first-ever gold medal for Arab competitors in padel at the Asian Games, defeating Malaysia’s Christian Chin and Aidan Younes 6-3, 6-1 in Japan on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
The historic victory arrived on the final stages of the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, where padel made its official debut as a medal sport. Dominating the tournament from the opening rounds, the Qatari pair did not drop a set during their run to the top of the podium.
How Rashid and Meshari Nawaf Claimed Padel Gold in Aichi-Nagoya
The tournament bracket tested the Qatari duo across multiple rounds of international competition. The campaign opened with a straight-sets victory over Kuwait’s Abdulaziz Maeioof and Fouad Behbehani in the round of 16. In the quarterfinals, the brothers maintained their rhythm by defeating the United Arab Emirates team of Abdullah Al Abdullah and Fares Al Janahi by the same margin.
The semifinal brought a tougher test against Iran’s Hami Golestan and Arya Roghani. The Qatari pair advanced through a 6-4, 6-2 victory to secure their place in the final. In the championship match on Saturday, the brothers faced Malaysia’s Christian Chin and Aidan Younes, securing the gold with a 6-3, 6-1 scoreline.
Asian Padel Leadership Hails a New Era for Qatari Sport
The victory elevates Qatar’s overall medal count at the Japan games to 16 colored medals, comprising five gold, six silver, and five bronze according to official reporting. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, president of the Olympic Council of Asia and the Qatar Olympic Committee, awarded the gold medal to the duo.
The hope is in Meshari and Rashid. This is a beginning and not an end. We have a strong team, and we hope to compete in the Islamic Solidarity Games and the World Championships. Asian
Zainal noted that the achievement marks a foundational milestone for the sport’s development across the region, pointing toward upcoming international fixtures including the Islamic Solidarity Games and the World Championships.
Broader Medal Success for Qatar at Aichi-Nagoya
The historic padel title unfolded alongside additional success for the Qatari delegation in Japan. On the same day the Nawaf brothers claimed their gold, the men’s beach volleyball team featuring Ahmed Tijan and Cherif Younousse added another gold medal to Qatar’s tally.
In the women’s padel tournament, Japan claimed the gold medal as Saki Tsukamoto and Kai Tokumoto defeated Indonesia’s Padona Kusumawati and Fitriani Sabatini 6-3, 6-4.
