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Vinay Nayudu
Doha
A golfer to emulate and follow in the footsteps of for many, Maha Haddioui is someone of whom not just her home nation Morocco but the entire Arab world is proud of.
Born in 1988, she took to golf at the age of 13 and has grown in stature since.
A graduate from Lynn University she became the first Moroccan and Arab professional golfer to reach the European Tour in December 2012. Four years down, she has become the first Arab to play at the Olympics (Rio 2016) and is now in Doha to play the first LET event to be hosted in Qatar.
Having recently participated at the Hero Indian Tour and having a week of practice in Dubai she's back to what she calls an amazing course and a second home to her.
"It's always great to have new tournaments but to me it's extra special playing in Qatar, it being an Arab country. So it feels a bit like home. I'm really excited to represent Morocco here and I'm really proud to be representing Arabs in general, playing this week and the LET all year," she said.
With her tribe growing back home, Maha will have another compatriot at the Qatar Ladies Open."There will be another Moroccan player in this tournament (amateur Lina Belmati). I feel proud to be representing my nation."
Speaking of her Olympics experience, Maha said,"It was great. It's something an athlete in any sport would dream about. Being called an Olympian is something really special. Overall, we had some great rounds in Rio but meeting sportspersons from round the globe was also special. I am looking forward to playing again in Tokyo in 2020."
The seasoned golfer is confident of a good show here and expressed a liking for the Doha Golf Club course."I'm looking for a top ten finish. I really like the course and it's the type of course I enjoy playing on. It's a straight course, really challenging with the winds here and it is going to be a great contest," said the 28-year-old.
