SHARJAH, 12th January, 2024 (WAM) -- Khaled Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), and Sheikh Salem bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Director of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, crowned former Italian football stars Luigi Di Biagio and Christian Panucci who won the title of the ‘Legends Padel Tour’, which was held on Wednesday at the World Padel Academy, setting the stage for a dazzling start to ‘Sharjah’s Week of the Stars’.
The triumphant event served as the grand kick-off for Sharjah’s Week of the Stars’, which is being held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and Chairman of the Executive Council.
The highly anticipated sports extravaganza in Sharjah is set to commence on Saturday, featuring the participation of 200 acclaimed players from 23 countries, including a star-studded lineup of 23 international football legends.
The dynamic Italian duo, Di Biagio and Panucci clinched the coveted title by outclassing football legends Ukrainian Andrei Shevchenko and French Vincent Candela in a thrilling final match, triumphing with a scoreline of two sets to one set.
In the 1990s and the early years of the new millennium, the iconic Italian football duo of Di Biagio and Panucci found themselves in a gripping tiebreaker (7-6) to seize the title. The initial set favoured the Shevchenko and Candela duo, who managed to secure the result at (4-2).
However, displaying resilience and skill, Di Biagio and Panucci staged a comeback in the third set, levelling the score with a decisive victory at (4-3). The intense showdown ultimately showcased these football legends' exceptional prowess and determination.
The ‘Sharjah’s Week of the Stars’ will continue its activities on Friday with the launch of the first edition of the ‘Night of the Stars’, which will take place at 7:30 pm at the Sharjah Sports Club Stadium.