Occidental crowned women’s bowling champions

MUSCAT: Occidental clinched the title at the 18th Women’s Bowling Championship, with Royal Court Affairs finishing runners-up and the SMEs Development Authority taking third place.

The championship concluded at Fun Zone in Qurum on September 30, with Dr Intisar bint Abdullah Ambusaidi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Education for Educational Support Programmes, attending the closing ceremony.

Organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth’s Women’s Sports Department in cooperation with the Oman Bowling Committee, the September 20–30 tournament attracted 156 players representing 26 teams from 22 government and private institutions. Players competed in singles, doubles, team and masters events.

Occidental were crowned women’s bowling champions.

Sohar International’s Samar al Maashari won the masters title with 533 points, ahead of Petroleum Development Oman’s (PDO) Aisha al Siyabani on 510. Al Reem al Isai, also of Sohar International, finished third with 454, followed by Royal Court Affairs player Samar al Omairi on 434.

Al Maashari also partnered Fatma al Balushi to secure the doubles crown with 928 points, edging Occidental’s Aliya al Marjabi and Maryam al Ghafri by 10 points. Royal Court Affairs pair Majda al Nabhani and Khadija al Manji took third with 808.

PDO’s Raya al Abri and Ahlam al Marjabi finished fourth on 783, three points ahead of Occidental’s Hiba al Dughaishi and Muna al Manji.

Royal Court Affairs finished as runners-up.

AISHA CLAIMS SINGLES

In the singles, PDO’s Aisha al Siyabani topped the standings with 532 points, followed by Occidental’s Maryam al Ghafri on 520. Royal Court Affairs player Husaina al Manji placed third with 459, ahead of OQ8’s Muzna al Ghafri on 456 and Sohar International’s Al Maashari on 449.

Speaking after the ceremony, Dr Intisar praised the organisation and participation, highlighting the championship’s role in helping women develop their sporting abilities and embrace active lifestyles.

She stressed the importance of encouraging physical activity from childhood through school sport, helping extend healthy habits into homes and communities. Supporting girls’ and women’s participation, she added, benefits families and society.

PDO’s Aisha al Siyabani topped the standings with 532 points.

Khawla al Rawahi, Director of the Women’s Sports Department, said closely-contested results reflected improving standards and the players’ commitment. She noted that the annual championship provided regular competition, strengthened connections between institutions and helped identify promising players.

Occidental’s Maryam al Ghafri attributed her team’s success to months of regular training under their coach, describing preparations as stronger than in previous editions.

She praised improvements in organisation while calling for more space to accommodate growing participation. Beyond results, she said, the championship offered employees a welcome break from work routines and opportunities to build friendships with women from other institutions.