MUSCAT, AUGUST 27
The Khareef Dhofar Bowling Championship 2026 will conclude on Friday at the Dhofar Bowling Centre, with the Open Championship set for a decisive final day after five days of competitive action involving 92 bowlers.
The championship features two events a Local Championship for players from Dhofar Governorate and an Open Championship available to all bowlers. The Local Championship concluded on Thursday night, while the Open competition will reach its climax on Friday, with the leading players battling for the title and cash prizes allocated by the Oman Bowling Committee.
The event, supported as part of the Khareef Dhofar Season, has witnessed close competition throughout the qualifying rounds, with several players recording strong scores as the field gradually narrowed towards the decisive stages.
Competition has been particularly intense in the Open Championship, which features several Oman national team players and some of the country’s leading ranked bowlers.
National team player Musab al Adawi continued to lead the standings after the fourth round, maintaining top spot for the fourth successive day. Al Adawi recorded a total of 920 from four games to secure his place among the 12 players advancing to the next stage.
Experienced bowler Hassan al Kharousi moved into second place after occupying third position in the previous two rounds, finishing with a total of 903.
Khalid Issa slipped to third with 867, while Badr al Mahrami secured fourth place with 862.
The other players progressing to the next stage were Islam Nafeed, Mahmoud al Hadidi, Mohammed al Hashmi, Khalid Qatan, Sultan al Jabri, Hassan al Azri, Ziyad al Raisi and Ahmed al Mufarji, completing the 12-player field. Eight bowlers were eliminated at the end of the round.
Al Kharousi said the standard of competition had been strong throughout the previous rounds and expected the battle to become even tougher during the closing stages.
“The competition has been good in the previous rounds, and we expect it to become more intense as the number of players is reduced at every stage,” he said.
“My target in this championship is to finish among the top three. I am pleased with my performances so far and have managed to remain among the leading positions during the competition.”
Al Kharousi highlighted the importance of open tournaments in raising the technical level of Omani bowlers by providing them with regular competitive opportunities.
“Open championships contribute greatly to the development of players. We thank the Oman Bowling Committee for its strong support of bowling programmes and activities throughout the year, which include several domestic competitions, championships and international participations,” he said.
He also praised the support provided by Dhofar Municipality for the championship, noting that the event has attracted a strong field of players and provides an important competitive platform for bowlers in Dhofar and across Oman.
The leading finishers in the Open Championship will be crowned during Friday’s closing ceremony, bringing the six-day bowling event to an end.
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