Qatar clinch twin titles, Oman women finish runners-up

MUSCAT: The curtains came down on Wednesday on the Arab 3x3 Basketball Championship for Youth and Women, hosted by the OBA in cooperation with the Arab Basketball Federation at Al Mouj Muscat. The event took place under the auspices of Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed al Nadabi, Secretary-General of Majlis Ash’shura, and in the presence of Eng Khalfan bin Saleh al Naabi, Oman Basketball Association Chairman (OBA), and Lt Gen Ismail al Qurqawi, President of the Arab Federation.

Oman’s women’s team (A) secured the runner-up position after falling in the final to Qatar 13–21, earning the silver medal as Qatar claimed the championship title and the gold. In the youth competition, Qatar continued their dominance by lifting the title after a thrilling 20–17 victory over Kuwait, while Lebanon secured third place by defeating Oman (B), who finished fourth.

Following the finals, the patron of the event crowned the winning teams. In the women’s category, Qatar took the gold medal, Oman (A) earned silver, and Kuwait claimed bronze. In the youth category, Qatar received the gold, Kuwait the silver, and Lebanon the bronze.

WOMEN'S FINAL

Oman’s women’s team delivered a strong performance in the final, matching Qatar’s pace during the early stages through organised offensive plays and quick transitions. Despite the balanced start, Qatar gradually imposed their experience, widening the gap through accurate shooting and fast execution, ultimately closing the game 21–13.

Despite the defeat, Oman’s players displayed high fighting spirit and the ability to respond throughout different phases of the match.

In the third-place playoff, Oman’s women’s team (B) lost to Kuwait 10–5. Although Oman attempted to regain momentum through improved shooting and defensive organisation, Kuwait restored control midway through the match thanks to the clear harmony between its players, securing the win and the bronze medal.

YOUTH FINAL

The youth final delivered a thrilling contest as Qatar defeated Kuwait 20–17.

Azzam Mohammed opened the scoring for Qatar, and both teams exchanged points in a tightly contested duel before Qatar held a narrow 13–12 advantage. Kuwait’s Amir Asadallah shone with crucial points that kept his team close, but in the decisive moments, Tamim Ashraf scored the go-ahead point for Qatar before Azzam sealed the victory with two points from a late foul, securing the title. Oman (B) fell to Lebanon 17–20 in the youth third-place match.

Oman began strongly through standout performances by Mohammed al Owaisi and Adam al Hinai to lead 4–1, followed by points from Mihab al Hambasi and Azd al Bahlani to extend the lead to 8–5 and later 11–7.

However, Lebanon mounted a comeback, exploiting defensive errors to tie the game 13–13 and then 16–16 before taking the win by a three-point margin.

Lt Gen Ismail al Qurqawi expressed great pride in the success of the championship, emphasising that Oman has once again proven its ability to host major Arab sporting events for the second consecutive year.

He highlighted the exceptional atmosphere at Al Mouj Muscat, the strong fan presence, and the high level of organisation, all of which contributed to a distinguished tournament showcasing strong competition and promising young talent.

Eng Khalfan al Naabi stated that the championship achieved an exemplary level of organisation praised by all delegations. He affirmed that the women’s national team’s silver medal reflects the steady development of women’s basketball in Oman.

He noted that the youth team delivered commendable performances despite not reaching the podium and emphasised continued efforts to build competitive national teams at the Arab and Gulf levels.

He concluded by thanking the strategic partners: the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MoCSY), Al Mouj Muscat and Oman Sail, as well as the event supporters: Jindal Steel, Ahli Bank, Dhofar Insurance, Aster Hospital, Nama and Halwa AlSaif.