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Medic on call!!
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Rep Power: 14
Nickels: 14,050.38
Bank: 87,629.54
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Re: Players to watch out for at Doha Asia Games
‘Qatari Gazelle’ set to make his mark
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Talented: 'Qatari Gazelle' Ahmed Khalil Al-Mohannadi executes another strong serve
Though Al-Mohannadi is officially still classed as a junior, the Doha-based player will be mixing it with much older and superior opposition at the Games. However, the experience is bound to stand him in very good stead in the fullness of time.
Al-Mohannadi is a “very talented player”, according to Khalid Al-Mawlawi, Secretary General of the Qatar Table Tennis Association (QTTA).
How well does he think Al-Mohannadi will fare during the Asian Games? “Don’t forget he is still classed as a junior. How well he will perform as a senior during the Games remains to be seen,” says Mr Al-Mawlawi. Although he does not expect him to win any medals in December, he does expect him to acquit himself well. “He is a competitive young man,” adds Mr Al-Mawlawi.
Useful backhand
Al-Mohannadi, who still attends secondary school in Doha, is ranked 815th in the men’s top 1,000 world ranking list for 2006. A good performance at the Asian Games should help to push him higher up the ladder. His strengths in the game are his service and a useful backhand topspin.
A right-hander and regarded as an attacking player, Al-Mohannadi won both the Qatari junior and men’s singles titles last year. He also finished 2nd in the junior doubles championship and was 4th in the men’s doubles. In 2003, he finished 3rd in the junior singles championship.
Last year Al-Mohannadi, a member of the Al-Arabi Club in Doha, took part in the 10th Arab Cup in Beirut, winning the junior final against his compatriot, Waleed Nasser. He also finished 3rd in the junior doubles event.
In May and June of this year, Al-Mohannadi and Nasser spent a few weeks training and playing friendly matches in Ottawa, Canada. The main focus of that trip was for the two players to obtain more match practice and experience.
 Silver service? Al-Mohannadi has a strong serve, but it could be too early for a Games medal
Ambitions and dreams
While in Canada, as part of a small delegation from the QTTA, Al-Mohannadi also attended English lessons. Although he speaks some English, he is not quite fluent in the language yet.
“His long stay in Canada was not only about improving his game. It was also about improving his education. His educational needs were also being catered for while away from home,” said Mr Al-Mawlawi.
Al-Mohannadi is considered to be a fast player. “I am so quick that people call me the Qatari Gazelle,” he says, tongue-in-cheek.
Like all sports people, Al-Mohannadi, who is 170cm tall and weighs 65kg, has his ambitions and dreams. “My ambitions are to win the world [senior] title and become the world’s No 1 table tennis player.”
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