Muscat: After two days of electrifying rallies, nail-biting finishes, and unmatched school spirit, the first-ever TAS Inter-School Badminton Tournament 2025 drew to a thrilling close with ISM claiming the championship title.

Organised by The Arabian Stories (TAS) in partnership with Morning Stars Badminton Club, the tournament has already cemented itself as a major fixture in Oman’s school sports calendar. The competition kicked off on November 21 with an intense schedule, 108 matches on Day 1 alone, featuring young talents who pushed their limits across fast-paced courts. In total, nearly 150 matches were played by around 150 participants.

Day 2 brought the decisive clashes, with boys’ and girls’ singles and doubles finals in the Under-13 and Under-17 categories. The atmosphere was electric as rising prodigies, experienced school-level players, and roaring cheering squads turned the academy into a hub of energy and excitement.

ISG stole the spotlight with consistent, dominant performances across categories, and a final phenomenal comeback in the very end, ultimately securing top honours and lifting the coveted Ever-Rolling Trophy. Their triumph was amplified by a roaring cheer squad that kept spirits soaring throughout the day.

Adding vibrance to the tournament, schools also competed for the special Nataraj-sponsored Cheerleading Award, recognising the most spirited and electrifying cheering contingent, with ISM securing top spot in keeping the energy high.

The event was powered by strong support from partners and sponsors, including Badr Al Samaa as Healthcare Partner and Hyundai as Automotive Partner. Associate sponsors Supa Sportsman, Modern Business Enterprise LLC, Oman Refreshments, Easy Store & Easy Care, Cumin Caterings, Kosmos Badminton Academy, and Maple Graphics also played key roles in making the event a standout success.

Reflecting on the competition, MS Sowmya, Vice Principal of ISWK Cambridge, said, “This provides the school and the learners an excellent opportunity to establish themselves in this wonderful sport. This gave our learners a fantastic opportunity to establish our inaugural badminton team.”

Suhaib Khan, PE Teacher at ISG International, added, “This is the first time our team is participating in this event and there’s a lot that the children are getting to learn from this event, and I’m sure the other schools got that opportunity too.”

Parents too shared in the enthusiasm. Vaibhav, a parent present at the finals, said, “It’s good to see a lot of community support here. This helps the kids improve their physical strength and abilities and keeps them active. As a group, being in Oman and interacting with the Indian community is also a great thing.”

With ISG lifting the tournament’s first Ever-Rolling Trophy, the TAS Interschool Badminton Tournament 2025 has set a strong benchmark for school sports excellence, and raised expectations for an even bigger edition next year.