OTA reviews future plans with clubs and private academies

MUSCAT: The Oman Tennis Association (OTA) held a meeting with a number of private tennis academies and clubs in Muscat to discuss the future development of the sport in the Sultanate of Oman and ways to expand its grassroots base in the coming phase. The meeting was chaired by Mutasim bin Hamood al Zadjali, Chairman of OTA. The meeting, held at the association’s headquarters, brought together representatives from Pro Tennis, Al Hayat Tennis Centre, PDO Tennis Club, Easy Tennis Club, and LJ Tennis Club, alongside OTF officials.
Al Zadjali praised the significant efforts made by academies in developing tennis in Oman, highlighting their vital role in nurturing players across different age groups. He noted that these efforts have contributed positively to the national teams, which have achieved encouraging results in recent international competitions.
He also expressed his appreciation for the role played by academies and private clubs in enhancing player development and expanding competitive opportunities across various age categories, as well as their continued participation in tournaments organised by the association.
The OTA chief emphasised the importance of such meetings in aligning perspectives and understanding the needs of clubs and academies to better serve the sport. He stated that the objective of the meeting was to exchange ideas, benefit from shared experiences, and establish stronger collaboration between the association and academies in both technical and administrative areas.
He further highlighted that the upcoming phase will be crucial in implementing player ranking systems at both local and international levels. This includes linking domestic tournament participation to international ranking points, encouraging academies to ensure consistent participation in OTA competitions throughout the season. He also stressed the importance of increasing player numbers in tournaments and working jointly to organise events across all age groups to enhance player development and continuity.
The OTA chairman also outlined future plans to establish new grassroots training centres and expand 'mini tennis' initiatives across various governorates.
Representatives of the academies expressed their appreciation for the meeting, describing it as a positive step towards strengthening cooperation and advancing the sport. They reaffirmed their commitment to contributing further to the development of competitions and actively participating in federation-led activities.
During the session, Al Zadjali also listened to several proposals and requests from academy representatives, all aimed at supporting the continued growth of tennis in Oman. From the OTAs’ side, the meeting was attended by Ahmed al Balushi, Sara al Balushi and coach Nabil Dube.