MUSCAT: Players returned to action on day four of the World Veteran Table Tennis Championships Muscat 2023 at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) looking to secure their place in the final rounds and achieve personal best finishes across all age categories. Five knockout rounds are scheduled in both the Main Draw and Consolation competition, and by the end of the day the final eight in each age category will be known ahead of tomorrow’s quarterfinals.
Some players have already advanced and will be eagerly awaiting their match-up. Already through is Marina Donner of Finland who will take on Monia Franchi of Italy, Joana Yordanova of Spain who is up against Janne Jensen of Denmark, and Ruth Schneider from Germany who plays Japan’s Atsuko Shirai. Several more players will be taking an interest in today’s matches as they await an opponent, including Sweden’s Sofia Westholm, Marielle Cadiou of France, Halyna Telna of Ukraine and Prasunna Parekh of India.
At the halfway point in the championships, competitors and officials alike have been full of praise for the organisation and the venue in Oman.
Masoud bin Zayed al Shaqsi, Member of the Board of Directors of the Oman Table Tennis Association (OTTA) and Chairman of the Competitions Committee, said, “The participants are elite players in the sport of table tennis, they have previously represented their countries at various international events, progressing through the age groups, and are now considered veterans. Therefore they still maintain some technical and tactical aspects that we have seen here in the tournament so far.
“The tournament witnessed the participation of about nine Omani players, who showed high levels of performance during the matches and a good technical level, as both Sultan al Riyami and Ismail al Suleimani achieved good results in the matches,” he added.
Masoud al Shaqsi also confirmed that the OTTA is in constant contact and cooperation with the ITTF in order to attract more international championships to the Sultanate of Oman with their commitment to organising an international youth championship annually, in addition to two junior championships.
The World Veteran Table Tennis Championships 2023 is organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Oman Table Tennis Association and the International Table Tennis Federation, with support from Oman Fiber Optic, STAG Sports, Omantel and Belltel.
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