MUSCAT, JAN 19
The players of Oman’s national tennis team made a strong start on the first day of the second Asian and International Under-14 Tennis Championship. The tournament, held at the tennis courts of Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher, features the participation of 13 countries' participation and will run until next Thursday. It will conclude with the awarding of prizes to the winners of the top positions in both tournaments.
The second championship introduced a new draw for all players. Oman's national team player, Arin al Azkawi, advanced to the Round of 16 due to her ranking, having secured third place in the first championship, which positioned her as the third seed in this tournament. Today’s matches include the boys’ Round of 16 and the girls’ quarterfinals.
First Day Results In the boys' category, Omani player Moataz al Mazroui secured a well-deserved victory against Jordanian player Rayan al Kawar with scores of 6-3 and 6-2. Emirati player Mohamed Ali defeated Qatari player Mohamed Samara with scores of 6-3 and 3-0 after Samara withdrew due to injury. Tajikistani player Ahmed Vostov triumphed over Bahraini player Nasser Mohamed 6-1, 6-4, while Saudi player Elias al Ghafli overcame Faisal al Awadi with scores of 6-2, 6-4. In another match, Ahmed Saroji defeated Kuwaiti player Saud al Sabah 6-0, 6-0, and Iraqi player Ahmed al Talib bested his compatriot Ayham Al Dhura 6-3, 6-3. Emirati player Ali Al-Ali secured a victory against Qatari player Abdulrahman al Niama with scores of 7-5, 6-0.
In the girls' category, Omani player Talia al Busaidy excelled with a win against Saudi player Jana Hakim, scoring 6-0, 6-1. Additionally, Jordanian player Bayan Hassan defeated her compatriot Layan Basel with scores of 6-4, 6-2.
Praise for the Championship Lebanese national team coach Mohamed Ataya praised the tournament, describing it as one of the best he has participated in during his career as both a player and coach. Despite his extensive experience in international tournaments, he expressed admiration for the outstanding organisation and high level of the championship in Oman.
Ataya highlighted the significance of this tournament for young players, offering them the opportunity to play one or two matches daily, which helps improve their performance, develop their skills, and gain valuable experience in strong competitions.
Commenting on the levels of participating players, Ataya noted that the tournament has generally witnessed good performances, particularly in the boys’ category. He also observed a marked improvement in the girls’ performance compared to the previous tournament, with a notable difference in the concluding stages of the first championship. The first day of the tournament featured intense competition and impressive performances from both male and female players, promising even more exciting matches in the upcoming rounds.
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