MUSCAT: Iran emerged champions in the West and Central Asia regional qualifying tournaments for the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Asia 14 and Under Development Championships 2024 at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex tennis courts from January 8 to 16.
Turkmenistan came in second in the tournament competed by the players of the age of 14 and under from hosts Oman, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
The Oman Tennis Association (OTA) was hosting international tennis events after a gap of nearly six years. Oman last hosted Davis Cup Asia Group 4 Championships in which Oman emerged champions in 2018.
The qualifying event consisted of two tournaments from January 8 to 11 and January 13 to 16 respectively.
In the concluding match, Iran's Ramtin, ranked 64th, was able to pull off a surprise victory over his compatriot Kiarash, ranked sixth, with scores of 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
In the girls' singles competition, Ilima of Turkmenistan snatched a dramatic victory from Hana of Iran 6-4, 1-6, 7-5.
Al Mutasim bin Hamoud al Zadjali, OTA Chairman, crowned the winners, which began with the crowning of the winners in the first tournament. In the boys’ singles category, Iran's Kiarash Sadeghizeidi took first place, his teammate Ramtin Rafeeiboroujeni came second while Yemen's Mohammed Abdulkarim finished third.
In the girls’ singles category, Turkmenistan's Ilima Guseynova won the title beating Iran's Hana Shabanpour while Iran's Golsa Rahimianamiri finished third.
In the boys’ doubles category, Iranian pair of Ramtin and Kiarash emerged champions beating Iraqi pair of Ahmed Altaleb and Hassan Ghriari.
In the girls' doubles, Iran pair of Golsa and Hana claimed the title defeating Turkmenistan's Ilima and Aylara KakabayevaIlara.
In the second tournament, Iran's Ramtin won the boy's singles title with his teammate Kiarash came runner-up and Yemen's Mohammed Abdulkarim in third. In the girls’ singles, Turkmenistan's Ilima emerged champion beating Iran's Hana while Golsa of Iran was third.
In the boys’ doubles, Iran pair of Ramtin and Kiarash won the title beating Saudi Arabian duo of Ibrahim al Junaidi and Suhail al Farouqi. In the girls’ doubles, Iran pair of Golsa and Hana emerged champions beating the Turkmenistan pair of Ilima and Aylara.
OTA chief Al Mutasim al Zadjali said the tournament was successful one by all standards.
"We were able to organise the Asian level ITF tournament after a gap of six years. The 14 and under years age group tournament for boys’ and girls’ in West and Central Asia is a qualifying event for the World Tennis Cup finals for these categories. The eight participating teams expressed their satisfaction with the tournament from an organisational and technical standpoint. The OTA is geared up to host several such tournaments in the near future," he said.
Regarding Oman players performance, the OTA chief said it has been an average show.
"The performance of Omani players was average though several of them reached the consolation stages. The OTA will arrange a special program to participate in foreign tournaments to prepare them further and be more competitive as the Omani players lack strong match experience."
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