Smouha, Monsef set for thrilling roll ball final

Muscat, Sept 12

The third edition of the Oman Roll Ball Championship concludes on Saturday with the highly anticipated final match between Egypt’s Smouha team and Iran’s Monsef team. The showdown, scheduled for 4:30 pm at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex’s secondary hall in Bausher, promises plenty of excitement and intensity as both sides aim to claim the championship title. Before the final, the third-place playoff will see India’s O baba team face Oman’s Salalah team.

The second day of competition produced strong results that reshaped the standings ahead of the semifinals. In Group B, Smouha continued their dominant run with a valuable 7–2 win over O baba, finishing the group stage with a perfect record and cementing their status as a title contender. In an all-Omani clash within the same group, Ibri secured their first victory by defeating Seeb 8–3, leaving Seeb winless at the bottom of the group.

Meanwhile, in Group A, Monsef asserted total control with a commanding 9–0 win over the UAE’s Scorpions. Salalah also impressed, defeating Yanqul 10–1 to strengthen their position in second place.

At the close of day two, Monsef topped Group A with a perfect record, followed by Salalah in second with four points (one win and one draw). The Scorpions finished third, while Yanqul ended without a point. In Group B, Smouha dominated the group with three straight wins, O baba came second with six points, Ibri finished third with three points from a single victory and Seeb were placed last without a win.

In the semifinals, Monsef edged O Baba 4–3 in a thrilling encounter that went down to the wire, while Smouha overwhelmed Salalah 10–2 with an outstanding attacking display, securing a well-deserved spot in the final.

Regarding the readiness of the organising committee for the tournament’s conclusion, Khalil al Waeli, Head of the Media Committee at the Oman Skating Sport Committee, explained that preparations for the closing ceremony are ongoing, with the committee keen to deliver a finale befitting the third edition of the championship the first of its kind in the Middle East.

Al Waeli pointed out that the first and second days of competition witnessed major results and exciting matches that raised the level of intensity early on, capturing the attention of the spectators and affirming the tournament’s status as an exceptional sporting event in Oman. He added that the tournament also received significant praise on the second day from representatives of the International Roll Ball Sports Federation, who visited the venue and expressed their admiration for the level of organisation and smooth management of the event, affirming that the championship is progressing in a professional manner that reflects the committee’s capability to host major tournaments.

Al Waeli further noted that the previous two editions achieved great success and widespread recognition, with the second edition featuring teams from Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The current edition, however, stands out for its expanded international scope and heightened competitiveness, bringing together teams from Egypt, Iran, India and the United Arab Emirates, alongside four local teams from Oman, completing the picture with a total of eight participating teams, evenly split between local and international sides.