Muscat, Feb 25
Oman national under-14 tennis team continues its journey in the preliminary qualifiers for the International Team Championship for Asia, currently taking place in Bahrain. The tournament is organised by the Bahrain Tennis Federation in collaboration with the International Tennis Federation, with the participation of 21 national teams.
On Wednesday, the team enters its second match of the tournament with high aspirations after securing a valuable victory in the opening encounter. The squad is determined to maintain its successful run and seize a qualification spot for the final stages.
Oman will face Kyrgyzstan, the fifth-seeded team in the tournament, in a crucial match within Group Five. The players aim to achieve their second consecutive win and strengthen their chances of advancing to the next stage, where only the top team from each group will qualify.
Oman kicked off their campaign with an exciting 2-1 victory over the UAE. Azzan al Busaidy delivered an outstanding performance in the first singles match, defeating Rashid al Maini 6-3, 4-6, 6-1. However, his team-mate Moataz al Mazroui fell to Mohammed al Ali 6-3, 7-6, leading to a decisive doubles match. In a thrilling contest, the Omani duo secured the win with a score of 5-7, 6-4, 10-8, earning their first triumph in the tournament.
Expressing his joy over the team’s first win, Azzan al Busaidy said, "It was a tough and challenging match, but we managed to give our best and come out victorious. Now, we are fully focused on the upcoming match against Kyrgyzstan. We know it will be a difficult test, but we will give our all to secure another win and continue our journey in the tournament."
Regarding the team’s preparations before the qualifiers, Al Busaidy explained, "We participated in the Oman Open Tennis Championship, which helped us improve our physical fitness and refine our playing style under pressure. The matches we played during that event allowed us to reach peak readiness and develop our strategies."
Al Busaidy also emphasised the role of team spirit and cooperation in their success, highlighting that "everyone is excited for the next challenge, approaching it with a fighting spirit and strong determination."
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