MUSCAT: Ibri paddlers reigned supreme in all the domestic TT events as they ended the 2023 season by clinching the National Senior Team’s Table Tennis title on Saturday beside their previous triumphs in U-11 and U15 TT championships.
Al Dhahirah Governorate based team senior players took the top honours in the national senior team’s category championship after defeating Seeb 3-2 in a tight clash on Saturday. The tournament was organized by Oman Table Tennis Association (OTTA) at the indoor hall of the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.
Seeb’s professional Jordanian player Zaid Yousef led his team in the first game as he beat Ahmed al Riyami 3-0. Then, Ibri’s professional player from Egypt Omar Badier could manage to register the equlaiser after registering a 3-0 win in the following match. In the third game, Muhanad al Balushi took Seeb again to the lead as he stun Ibri’s Nasser al Balushi 3-2. Later, Omar Badier returned Ibri to the origin point again after he defeated Zaid Yousef 3-0. In the deciding game, Ahmed al Riyami surprised Oman’s former senior TT champions Asad al Raisi as he beat him 3-0 to deliver the title for Ibri team.
As many as 15 teams including Al Seeb, Qurayat, Ahli Sidab, Nakhal, Al Rustaq, Al Suwaiq, Saham, Ibri, Yanqul, Al Nahda, Al Ittifaq, Salalah, Dhofar, Mirbat and Masirah took part in the three days event. All the participated teams distributed into three groups as the first group comprised from Saham, Ahli Sidab, Salalah, Al Nahda and Nakhal. The second group featured from Al Seeb, Ibri, Al Rustaq, Al Ittifaq and Al Suwaiq. Masirah accompanied Qurayat, Dhofar, Yanqul and Mirbat teams in the third group.
Ibri crowned as the champions after they positioned as runners up in the group stage behind the toppers Al Seeb. Ibri won all the group matches against Al Rustaq, Al Ittifaq and Al Suwaiq except they suffered to a defeat against Al Seeb. In the quarterfinals, Ibri secured slot after beating Masirah 3-1. Then, the champions progressed to the finals as they overcome Salalah 3-2 and then winning Al Seeb 3-2 in the concluding game.
Ibri (A) team had lifted the U-11 championship while Ibri (B) positioned in the second place and Saham (B) team placed in third position.
Saham (A) team had crowned as champions of U-13 championship while Irbi (A) and Ibri (B) teams were placed in the second and third place respectively. Ibri (A) team had lifted the U-15 championship after topping the group with 14 points while Yanqul team positioned as runners up with 13 points and Saham in third place with 12 points.
After completion of the final team’s senior match, Basil bin Ahmed al Rawas, the Under-Secretary of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Sports and Youth delivered the medals and trophies for the top winners in all the local championships. During the podium ceremony, OTTA feted Oman’s international blue badge umpies namely Mohammed al Alawi and Aisha al Saidi for obtaining this umpiring degree after series of written exams and interviews beside some assessment in different regional and international events.
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