Malaysia, Iran crowned Muscat 3×3 Basketball champions

MUSCAT: Malaysia claimed the men’s title and Iran won the women’s crown as the Muscat Nights International 3×3 Basketball Championship came to a close on Saturday evening at Al Araimi Boulevard.
Malaysia secured the men’s championship after edging Oman’s national team (B) 16–14 in a closely contested final, while Iran captured the women’s title with a 21–14 victory over India.
The awards ceremony was held under the auspices of Salim al Araimi, Board Member of Al Araimi Boulevard, in the presence of Eng Khalfan bin Saleh al Naabi, Chairman of the Oman Basketball Association (OBA), Eng Salim al Busaidy, Director General of Muscat Municipality in the Wilayat of Al Seeb, along with several officials, and drew a strong crowd attendance.
Before the finals, classification matches were also contested. Oman (A) finished third in the men’s category after defeating the Philippines 21–13, while Oman (A) women secured third place with a narrow 5–4 win over Oman (B).
Men’s Final
The men’s final remained thrilling until the last moments, with Malaysia narrowly defeating Oman (B) 16–14.
Oman (B) took an early lead through Osama al Riyami, and both sides exchanged baskets in a balanced contest. Oman showed strong periods of dominance thanks to Abdulrahman al Maamari and Ahmed al Sinani. However, Malaysia’s experience and decisive shooting in the closing minutes proved crucial, allowing them to snatch the win and the title.

WOMEN’S FINAL
In the women’s final, Iran delivered a commanding performance to defeat India (Maaza Ahmedabad) 21–14 after controlling the game from the outset.
Elina opened the scoring for Iran, followed by Shadi with two quick points. Although India attempted to close the gap, Kimia extended Iran’s advantage with key baskets. Iran maintained their attacking rhythm and gradually widened the margin, while India struggled to match the pace. The Iranian team ultimately sealed the victory and deservedly lifted the trophy.
Malaysian player Yop Chin See expressed his happiness after winning the title, noting that the tournament featured strong competition and that the final was challenging before his team managed to rally and secure victory through teamwork. He also praised the organisation and atmosphere in Muscat and hoped to return for future editions.
Meanwhile, Iranian player Shadi Abdolvand said the women’s title was the result of teamwork and strong chemistry among the players, adding that the fast-paced competition helped raise their technical level. She also commended the professional organisation and hospitality.
On the organisational side, Said al Habsi, Acting Secretary-General of the OBA, stressed that the championship achieved significant technical and organisational success thanks to the cooperation of all partners. He praised Muscat Municipality’s partnership and noted that the positive results of the national teams and valuable international exposure would contribute to developing the sport and strengthening Omani basketball’s presence regionally and internationally in the coming years.

Photos: Ammar Al Musafir