MUSCAT: Oman’s U-14 national tennis team concluded its participation in the preliminary qualifiers for the International Junior Championship held in Bahrain amid an atmosphere of intense competition. The team secured three victories, contributing to the players’ international ranking points.
The team began its campaign with a valuable win against the UAE but suffered a setback in the second match against Kyrgyzstan, the fifth-seeded team, with a 3-0 defeat. Despite a strong performance, Azzan al Busaidy lost a two-hour match against Kazakbayev, ending 7-5, 6-4 in favour of the latter. Moataz al Mazrouei also fell to player Bekay, 6-1, 6-3. In the doubles competition, the Omani pair couldn’t secure a win, losing 6-2, 6-2, ultimately missing the chance to qualify for the quarterfinals.
In the placement matches, Oman faced Turkmenistan, suffering a 3-0 loss. Azzan al Busaidy was defeated by Ali 6-2, 6-2, while Moataz al Mazrouei lost to Suleiman by the same score. The doubles match ended 4-2, 4-2 in favour of Turkmenistan.
However, the Omani team bounced back with a crucial 2-1 victory over Yemen. Azzan Al Busaidy lost his match against Yousef Omar 6-2, 3-6, (9-11), but Moataz al Mazrouei secured a win over Ahmed Said 6-3, 6-3. In their final match, Oman delivered an impressive performance against Jordan, winning 2-0. Azzan al Busaidy defeated Rayan Kowar 6-2, 6-1, while Moataz al Mazrouei showcased a strong display, winning against Omar Istanbul 6-1, 6-1. At the tournament's conclusion, Hong Kong claimed the championship title after defeating Indonesia 2-0, securing both teams a place in the final qualifiers for the Junior World Cup.
Ahmed al Balushi, the team’s delegation manager, emphasised the significance of such tournaments in enhancing players' technical skills and boosting their international rankings. He noted that the competition, which featured 21 teams, was highly competitive and included opponents with strong international and Asian rankings, providing Omani players with valuable experience and confidence. He added that the Oman Tennis Association is committed to participating in tournaments under the International and Asian Tennis Federations, as well as regional championships, to further refine the players' skills and competitiveness.
National team coach Sofiane highlighted that the tournament was an important and beneficial experience for the players, allowing them to compete against opponents of various levels, which helps in their development.
"Despite some challenges, such as the injury of Abdulrahman al Rahbi, the players delivered strong performances and demonstrated a high level of competitiveness," Sofiane said. "We secured three victories, and we could have achieved even better results if not for minor mistakes, which we will work on correcting in the future. What pleased me the most was the fighting spirit displayed by the players, especially in difficult matches." Regarding the importance of the tournament, the coach explained that competing in such events provides players with a great opportunity to face internationally and regionally ranked opponents, which enhances their confidence and playing style. Sofiane concluded, "We will evaluate our performance, correct our mistakes, and aim for better results and deeper progress in upcoming tournaments."
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