Malak El Karmoudi and Aboubaker Al Hammouti claimed the women’s and men’s singles titles, respectively, at the second edition of the Torneo UNED Melilla de Bádminton, an event that also served as the selection platform for the regional team heading to the Spanish Regional Championships, Melilla Hoy reported.
The tournament, organized by the Melilla Badminton Federation and the UNED Melilla center, brought together over 60 local players and concluded last Friday with the finals on the central court, the ‘Ángel Castro’. The competition’s decisive day was preceded by tightly contested semifinals in both categories and featured an exhibition doubles mixed match involving the four players who had fallen short of the individual finals.
Tournament Finals: A Showcase of Skill and Determination
The women’s singles final saw Malak El Karmoudi emerge victorious against Carla Sanchís. El Karmoudi secured the title with a commanding two-set victory, winning 21-14 and 21-17. In the opening set, El Karmoudi maintained the initiative on the scoreboard and effectively countered Sanchís’s attempts to mount a comeback. The second set followed a different pattern, with Sanchís gaining an early lead. However, El Karmoudi fought back after the interval, leveling the match and ultimately sealing the win with her performance in the decisive points.
The path to the final was paved with hard-fought matches. Sanchís had advanced by defeating Zaina Mohamed 21-18, 21-18, while El Karmoudi secured her spot by narrowly Lorena Rivas in a three-set thriller, winning 21-18, 19-21, 21-18.
In the men’s singles category, Aboubaker Al Hammouti triumphed in a compelling final against his brother, Omar Al Hammouti. The elder sibling claimed the title with a 21-15, 21-18 victory. The final was an enthralling duel between two players who know each other’s games intimately. Omar Al Hammouti relied on his defensive prowess, while Aboubaker Al Hammouti utilized the quality of his shots from the back of the court and his smashes to gain the upper hand. Aboubaker secured the first set by maintaining a slight but consistent lead. The second set mirrored the first, with Omar attempting to neutralize his brother’s offensive play, but Aboubaker proved more effective in the crucial moments to close out the match and claim the championship.
Aboubaker’s final opponent was decided when he overcame Diego Carretero 21-15, 21-17. Omar Al Hammouti had earned his place in the final by defeating Amir El Yousfi 21-10, 21-5.
Recognizing Emerging Talent
Between the singles finals, an exhibition mixed doubles match was contested between the pairs of Lorena Rivas and Diego Carretero, and Zaina Mohamed and Amir El Yousfi. The experienced duo of Rivas and Carretero won the exhibition match 21-10, 21-14. Despite the one-sided scoreline, the match was more competitive than it appeared, with the youthful pairing of Mohamed (sub-19) and El Yousfi (sub-15) showing significant energy and push against their more seasoned opponents.
The tournament also recognized outstanding performances with awards for the most promising players of the edition. The distinction for players revelación was awarded to Amir El Yousfi and Zaina Mohamed for their notable contributions throughout the championship.
Forming the Melilla Team for the Spanish Regional Championships
A key outcome of this second edition of the Torneo UNED Melilla was the formation of the Melilla regional team that will represent the city at the Campeonato de España de Selecciones Autonómicas (CESA). The CESA will be held from December 11-13, 2026, in Arrecife, Lanzarote.
The technical direction of the Melilla Badminton Federation has selected a squad of eight players—four men and four women—along with two coaches to represent the autonomous city at this national event. The selected players are:
- Women: Malak El Karmoudi (sub-17), Zaina Mohamed (sub-19), Lorena Rivas, and Carla Sanchís.
- Men: Aboubaker Al Hammouti (sub-19), Omar Al Hammouti (sub-19), Diego Carretero, and Zacarías Daanouni (sub-19).
Tournament Concludes with Formalities and Acknowledgments
The event concluded with the traditional group photograph, attended by players, families, and organizers. Following this, trophies were presented to all finalists. In a gesture of appreciation, the president of the Melilla Badminton Federation, Vicente Ramírez, presented a plaque to Juan Luis Ramos, the director of the UNED Melilla center, in recognition of the institution’s collaboration in hosting the tournament.
The awards ceremony was also attended by Carlos Longo, president of the Andalusian Badminton Federation, showing regional cooperation and support for the event.
