MUSCAT: Al Amerat cemented their rising dominance in Omani hockey after retaining the 55th His Majesty’s Cup, edging past record champions Ahli-Sidab 4–3 in a tense shootout following a thrilling 4–4 draw at the Hockey Oman Arena on Monday night.
The high-stakes final, held under the patronage of HH Sayyid Dr Fahd bin Al Julanda Al Said, Vice-Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University, drew a packed crowd and the attendance of senior dignitaries including Basil bin Ahmed Al Rawas, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, and Dr Marwan bin Juma Al Juma, Chairman of the Oman Hockey Association.
Having lifted their maiden title last year, Al Amerat’s back-to-back triumph confirmed their status as Oman’s new hockey powerhouse. The defending champions began aggressively, creating early chances before both teams squandered penalty corners in a goalless opening quarter.
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Ahli-Sidab drew first blood in the second quarter through Rashid Salem Al Fazari, assisted by Pardeep Singh, but Al Amerat hit back instantly. Korean star Jonghyun Jang converted a penalty stroke to level the score, and minutes later Uttam Singh struck to give Al Amerat a 2–1 lead at halftime.
Early in the third quarter, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay made it 3–1, but Ahli-Sidab rallied with Pardeep Singh reducing the deficit to 3–2. The final quarter turned into a rollercoaster, with Al Fazari equalising at 3–3 before being shown a yellow card. Al Amerat took advantage of the extra man as Osama Khamis restored their lead at 4–3, only for Al Fazari—fresh from suspension—to dramatically equalise in the dying seconds via a penalty corner.
In the shootout, Al Amerat held their nerve to win 4–3, sparking jubilant celebrations among players and fans alike. The champions received OMR 40,000 and 30 gold medals, while runners-up Ahli-Sidab took home OMR 25,000 and silver medals. Salalah Club claimed bronze after beating Sohar 4–3 on penalties following a 3–3 draw.
This year’s tournament featured a record 20 clubs, the introduction of VAR technology, and international referees—signalling another step forward in the sport’s professional growth in Oman.
Individual Awards:
• Best Player: Younis Ghabish Al Nofali (Al Amerat)
• Best Goalkeeper: Fahad Al Nofli (Al Amerat)
• Top Scorer: Jonghyun Jang (13 goals, Al Amerat)
• Best Promising Player: Maitham Saif Al Wahaibi (Ahli-Sidab)
