Oman roll ball tourney to feature 108 players from 5 nations

Muscat, Sept 9
The Oman Roll Ball Tournament will kick off on Wednesday at the Bausher Sports Complex and continue until September 13. The tournament is organised by the Oman Committee for Skating Sports with the participation of 108 players representing eight teams from five countries.
The tournament will feature strong local representation, including teams from Ibri, Seeb, Salalah, and Yanqul, alongside four international teams from the United Arab Emirates, Iran, India and Egypt. This international participation is expected to give the competition a significant boost in terms of technical level and competitive experience, as these countries were chosen for their extensive expertise and active federations in the sport.
Khalil Al Waili, head of the tournament's media committee, explained that the tournament is part of the committee’s plan to spread the culture of skating sports among different age groups in the Sultanate, while giving local players the chance to compete with experienced international teams an opportunity that will raise their technical level and sharpen their practical skills. He added that the tournament also serves to enhance Oman's position as both a sporting and tourism destination capable of hosting and organising major events.
The tournament has officially revealed its group stage line-up. Group A features Salalah and Yangul from Oman, alongside Monsef from Iran and the Scorpions from the UAE. Meanwhile, Group B includes Ibri and Seeb representing Oman, with Smouha from Egypt and the federation team from India completing the pool.
Al Waili emphasised that hosting the tournament is not limited to sports competition; it also acts as a platform for cultural and sporting exchange between Omani youth and their counterparts from participating countries, enriching the overall experience and expanding sports relations between Oman and these nations. He stressed that such championships inspire Omani youth to take up this modern sport and develop their talents sustainably.
BIG TARGET
Regarding future ambitions, Al Waili pointed out that the committee looks forward to hosting larger tournaments in the coming years, such as the Asian Cup and world championships, which would further boost Oman’s presence on the international sports map and give it a central role in the development of the sport in the region.
The tournament will begin with a group stage, where each team will play against the others to determine qualifiers for the knockout rounds, culminating in the final match to crown the champion. Al Waili confirmed that the tournament will strictly adhere to the regulations of the International Federation, with specialised technical committees overseeing discipline and match documentation to ensure fairness and integrity.
As for refereeing, Al Waili explained that the tournament will rely on referees from India and Iran, alongside qualified local referees, to ensure neutrality while also giving Omani referees practical experience in managing international-level matches.
On the readiness of local teams, Al Waili stated that players have been prepared through ongoing physical and technical programs, in addition to their participation in previous local tournaments that helped ready them for this competition. He considered the participation of the four local teams an important addition, as it offers them direct exposure to international standards and opens the door for future representation abroad.