Hawk-Eye to Make Bahrain Debut at ATP Challenger

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Hawk-Eye technology will be used for the first time in Bahrain when the Ministry of Interior ATP Challenger gets going on Sunday, bringing a new level of precision to officiating.

The tournament, running from 9 to 15 February, will draw some of the world’s top-ranked players and has already established itself as a standout event after being recognised as the best ATP Challenger tournament in Asia and the Pacific.

Shaikh Khalid bin Rashid Al Khalifa, the tournament’s general supervisor, confirmed the details at a press conference at the Public Security Officers Club Saturday, where the draw was conducted, a new logo unveiled, and final preparations announced. He said everything had been set up to meet the highest standards, from the courts to the facilities, ensuring what he called a ‘thorough sporting experience for players and spectators alike’.

The decision to introduce Hawk-Eye, a system commonly seen in Grand Slam events, marks a step forward for the tournament. Shaikh Khalid described it as a ‘precision tool that enhances officiating and adds a professional technical dimension’, raising the competitive standard while offering spectators a sharper view of the action.

He credited Interior Minister Lt-General HE Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa for the backing that has allowed Bahrain to host the tournament for four years in a row. ‘His support has been central to securing Bahrain’s place as a key venue for world-class tennis,’ he said. The tournament’s growing stature was reinforced last year when it was named the best event of its kind in Asia and the Pacific by the ATP. Shaikh Khalid said this recognition ‘raises expectations and pushes us to deliver an even stronger edition this year’.

Brigadier Khalid Al Khayat, president of the Public Security Sports Association and chairman of the organising committee, traced the tournament’s growth since its launch in 2012, calling it a firm fixture in the international tennis calendar. ‘We’ve managed to attract some of the world’s best-ranked players, and the event has become one of the Gulf and the Arab world’s standout sporting competitions,’ he said. ‘Each year, we refine every aspect—whether it’s the quality of players, the way the tournament is run, or the improvements made to the facilities.’

With the qualifying rounds beginning on Sunday, professional players from across the world are set to compete, reinforcing the tournament’s status as an essential event in the ATP Challenger calendar.

Valery Lutkov, Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Supervisor congratulated Bahrain and the Ministry of Interior for the tournament’s recognition, calling it ‘a key date in the ATP calendar, known for its world-class organisation and the standard of competition it delivers’.

Shaikh Khalid extended his thanks to all sponsors and partners, inviting the public to attend, register, and be part of the tournament’s events.