MUSCAT, JULY 27
Oman’s national men’s volleyball team added a new milestone to its continental achievements by claiming the bronze medal in the 2025 West Asian Men’s Volleyball Championship, following a well-earned 3-1 victory over Saudi Arabia in the third place playoff held at Isa Bin Rashid Hall in Isa Sports City, Bahrain. This marks Oman’s first-ever medal in this regional tournament at the national team level and comes with a notable jump in the world rankings from 76th to 70th.
The Omani team started strong in the first set, asserting control early on with a solid block from Saud al Maamari, followed by powerful attacks from Mahmoud al Saadi, giving Oman a 4-1 lead. With solid defensive organisation and standout mid-court strikes from Ismail al Haidi, Oman closed the set 25-19.
In the second set, Saudi Arabia capitalised on Oman’s offensive errors and lack of focus to bounce back and take the set 25-20. However, Oman regrouped in the third set, with Youssef al Shukaili excelling at the net and Al Haidi continuing his offensive dominance, leading to a 25-18 win.
The fourth set was closely contested with continuous point exchanges, but Oman’s experience shone in the final moments. Al Maamari and Al Saadi broke the Saudi momentum, sealing the set 25-22 and the match 3-1.
Official match statistics revealed Oman’s clear superiority in offensive efficiency, scoring 95 points to Saudi Arabia’s 83. Oman registered six direct service aces and five successful blocks, offsetting 14 service errors thanks to strong mental focus and defensive coverage. Ismail al Haidi emerged as the match MVP, tallying 20 clean offensive points.
Qatar Claims Gold; Al Haidi wins Best “Spiker 2” Qatar clinched the championship title after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Bahrain in the final. Oman's Al Haidi was awarded Best "Spiker 2" for his composed performance and ability to shift the game tempo, particularly in the bronze medal match.
In a post match statement, Al Haidi expressed his joy, calling the award a result of collective team effort from the preparation phase onward. "This award isn’t mine alone, it belongs to everyone who supported me and stood behind the team. We played as one family, and our fighting spirit was the key to our success," he said.
The tournament's awards highlighted standout performances across all positions, with Qatari star Renan Ribeiro being named the Best Player of the Championship. The award for Best Setter went to Bahrain’s Mahmoud Al Afia. The Best "Spiker 4" honour was shared between Bahrain’s Mohammad Yaqoob and Qatar’s Nikola, both of whom impressed with their powerful attacking contributions. In the Best "Spiker 3" category, the award was jointly claimed by Bahrain’s Hassan Al Warqa and Qatar’s Bilal Abu Nabout. Qatar's Mahmoud Naji received the Best Libero award. Notably, Oman’s Ismail al Haidi earned a well-deserved place among the elite by winning the award for Best “Spiker 2,” recognising his impactful role and balanced play, particularly during the third-place match against Saudi Arabia.
Oman Volleyball Association (OVA) President and West Asia Vice-President, Eng Ibrahim al Maqbali hailed the bronze medal as the result of a clear developmental plan and team effort. He noted the challenges Oman faces due to the disparity in professional resources, explaining, Our players participate as amateurs, while others rely on full-time professionals. We hope for partial player releases to aid future growth.
Al Maqbali also praised Omani media coverage, stating it provided a significant morale boost for the players throughout the championship. He concluded by emphasising the importance of maintaining this momentum in upcoming tournaments.
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