Rafa Nadal Academy ‘vital’ for advancing Kuwait’s tennis: KTF
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 3 (KUNA): Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy Kuwait, which will open this Wednesday, is vital to the advancement of the game in the country, Kuwait Tennis Federation (KTF) President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah said Monday.
In an interview with KUNA, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber said that this organization will enable local talent emerging in tennis, as well as upcoming generations of champions in Kuwait.
The opening of the Academy in the Sheikh Jaber Al-Abdullah Al-Jaber AlSabah International Tennis Complex will take place with the presence of Rafael Nadal himself; Spain’s number one tennis player, who will play an exhibition match, he pointed out.
The Academy is concerned with
Movistar Mallorca (Majorca), at Tamdeen Group’s headquarters at 360 Mall.
The press conference with them addressed the details of this prominent project that will contribute to enhancing awareness levels about tennis and a healthy lifestyle among the youth, as well as enticing a new generation of sports enthusiasts.
During the conference in a video message, ‘Rafa’ expressed his pleasure at the new venture saying, “I’m personally very happy to open the Academy in Kuwait. We’re working hard to create the right programs for the kids and our members, making for strong development of tennis all over the region. See you very soon.”
Meanwhile Toni Nadal said that they have worked since the Academy’s opening in Spain to train tennis enthusiasts worldwide in the finest technical and ethical skills.
He added that in Kuwait, they will provide high-level training for children and adults enrolled in the Academy.
The Sheikh Jaber Al-Abdullah AlJaber Al-Sabah International Tennis Complex project, which has a building area of 70,000 square meters, is the first multi-facility and service complex for tennis in the Middle East.
The Complex includes KTF headquarters, in addition to the Rana Nadal Academy, the largest international tennis academy in the Middle East, in which unlike the Academy in Mallorca, is not intended for student accommodation. Each of these stadiums is equipped with a package of the latest international technology, advanced sound insulation and a variety of fixed and foldable seats designed by the architect and designer Norman Foster, manufactured by Figueras International Seating.
On his part, Nuno Marques, the vastly experienced coach at the Academy who will assume the role of head of tennis at the planned academy, stressed his ultimate aim of producing future Kuwaiti tennis champion.
They’ve won 31 of the 50 Crosby versus Ovechkin games dating to their NHL debuts during the 200506 season.
Keeping Ovechkin in check was a big reason for this victory. Ovechkin was held off the score sheet and remained at 37 goals this season and 695 for his career.
Murray was solid, rewarding coach Mike Sullivan for the start over AllStar Tristan Jarry. One of his biggest stops came on a breakaway by Jakub Vrana in the second period with the Penguins leading 2-1, and Dominik Simon scored minutes later to double the lead.
Murray also got a piece of a shot by Ovechkin late in the third period with the Penguins clinging to a lead and the Capitals pressing.
Pittsburgh made life difficult on rookie Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov, who allowed goals to Sam Lafferty, Patric Hornqvist, Simon and Brandon Tanev on 33 shots. In his first career start against the Penguins, Samsonov gave up one goal short side, one off his stick, one on a rebound and was
Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Matt Murray (30) stops Washington Capitals left wing Jakub Vrana (13) during the
second period of an NHL hockey game, on Feb 2, in Washington. (AP)
victimized by a bad bounce late.
Tempers flared several times between the Penguins and Capitals, who met in the playoffs three of the past four years. They racked up 13 penalties and, despite all the star power, combined to go 0 for 9 on the power play.
Lars Eller was the best player on the ice and scored twice for Washington, and Evgeny Kuznetsov added a thirdperiod goal.
Kuznetsov also provided the comic relief in the game when he tried to hop on to the Penguins’ bench to avoid a too many men on the ice penalty against the Capitals. He was not successful.
In Raleigh, North Carolina, Justin Williams scored the winning goal in a shootout to lift Carolina over Vancouver.
Williams wristed a shot inside the post to the right of Thatcher Demko, giving the Hurricanes a 2-1 edge in the shootout. Carolina goalie James Reimer then used his left pad to stop Bo Horvat to clinch the win.
It was Williams’ second shootout winner in four games since returning to the Hurricanes following an extended offseason. Carolina, which is 3-1 since Williams’ return, got goals
Vancouver Canucks center J.T. Miller (9) shoots on goal while Carolina Hurricanes right wing Nino Niederreiter (21), of Switzerland, looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C.,
on Feb 2. (AP) in regulation from Nino Niederreiter, Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov as Reimer made 32 saves.
Elias Pettersson scored twice, Tyler Myers added a goal and Oscar Fantenberg and J.T. Miller each had two assists for Vancouver, whose five-game winning streak was snapped. Demko made 29 saves.
In Montreal, Pierre-Luc Dubois scored twice and added an assist to lift Columbus over Montreal.
Vladislav Gavrikov and Gustav Nyquist also scored as Columbus swept the season series. The Blue Jackets have picked up at least a point in eight straight games.
Elvis Merzlikins made 27 saves and improved to 10-2-0 since replacing injured starter Joonas Korpisalo.
Tomas Tatar, Max Domi and Shea Weber scored for the Canadiens, who remain eight points out of a playoff spot with 28 games left. Carey Price started for the second straight day and stopped 23 of 26 shots.