Doha: After several weeks of exciting buildup, the Qatar Ooredoo World Padel Championship is finally here.

The first of its kind to be held in Asia and the Middle East, the tournament kicks off on Monday at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.

Over 320 players from 16 nations are participating in the competition, which ends on Saturday, November 20.

As per the draw held on Sunday, Team Qatar will play in group (C) alongside Brazil, Italy and Belgium.

The biennial championship, established in 1992 for both male and female players, has generally been hosted in Europe and the Americas, with Argentina being the most successful nation to date with a total of 13 medals (10 gold and three silver) won by the men's team and 12 medals (8 gold and four silver) for the women's.

The Spanish duo of Alejandro Galán Romo and Juan Lebrón Chincoa, the world's top-two, are some of the stars to watch out for in the men's event. Gemma Triay Pons and her Spanish compatriot Alejandra Salazar Bengoechea, who are leading the women's CUPRA rankings, are arguably the standouts in the women's event.

Padel has been gaining increasing popularity in Qatar, and the country inaugurated the biggest indoor padel court in the Arab world in July.