25 teams to compete in 17th Women’s Bowling Championship

MUSCAT, SEPT 9

The Women’s Sports Department at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MoCSY) held the draw ceremony for the 17th Women’s Bowling Championship at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher, with the presence of team representatives from participating institutions and companies. The championship will take place from September 14 to 24 at the Fun Zone Hall in Qurum.

The draw resulted in dividing the 25 participating teams into two groups. Group A included 12 teams: Al Maha Petroleum Products Marketing Company (3), Al Maha Petroleum Products Marketing Company (1), Oman Electricity Transmission Company, Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Royal Air Force of Oman, Sharqiyah Aviation, Waterfront Company, Sohar International Bank, Occidental (1), Bank Nizwa, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, and Al Maha Petroleum Products Marketing Company (2).

Group B included 13 teams: Mohammed al Barwani Company, Omantel, Rowley Company, Bank Muscat, Occidental (2), Muscat Municipality (2), Daleel Petroleum, Ministry of Social Development (MoSD), Muscat Municipality (1), Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), Petrogas Company, Royal Court Affairs, and Asyad Group.

TECHNICAL REGULATIONS

The organising committee established several technical conditions for participation, most notably that all players must belong to the same institution and be officially registered by the concerned authority. Each team must consist of at least four main players and two substitutes. The regulations prohibit players from outside the institution, but each institution is allowed to register one foreign player who works within the same organisation. The rules also state that 15 points will be deducted in each game for every participating player who is also registered with the Oman national bowling team, to promote equal opportunities among all teams and ensure fair competition with a strong sporting spirit.

Teams were divided into two groups, with each institution competing with at least four main players, along with two possible substitutes. In the singles competition, all registered players will play three rounds. In the doubles competition, each pair will also play three rounds. The team competition will feature four players from each institution competing over three rounds. The 'Masters' event will qualify the top 30 players based on their accumulated scores in the earlier rounds to determine the final rankings for singles and teams.

If a player withdraws due to injury, 75 points will be recorded for the unfinished round, while the remaining rounds will proceed as normal. The overall ranking will be determined based on the total medals achieved by each institution across the competitions. Trophies and cash prizes will be awarded to the top three teams in the overall ranking, in addition to gold, silver, and bronze medals for winners in each event, with incentive prizes allocated to the fifth and sixth places in some categories.

Khawla al Rawahi, Director of the Women’s Sports Department at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, stated that the 17th Women’s Bowling Championship represents an important platform that allows female employees to participate in sports and physical activity. It also provides institutions with the opportunity to highlight their presence through their female staff in such women-specific sporting events.

Al Rawahi added that what distinguishes this edition is the expansion of registration opportunities for institutions. As in previous editions, participation was limited to only four players per team, while this year each team is allowed to include up to six players. This, she emphasised, provides institutions with greater opportunities for competition and enhances the women’s sporting atmosphere of the championship.