MUSCAT – Al Amerat defeated defending champions Seeb 3–2 on Sunday night to win the Oman Table Tennis Senior Teams Championship for the first time, completing an unbeaten run through the knockout stages.
The final took place at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher, where Ibri beat Saham 3–1 in the third-place playoff to claim bronze.
Al Amerat topped Group One with eight points before beating Taqah 3–0 in the quarter-finals and Saham by the same score in the semi-finals.
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The title capped a successful season for Al Amerat’s Mahannad Al Balushi, who also won the senior individual championship. Seeb’s Nasser Al Balushi finished second in the individual event, followed by teammate Ghassan Al Ghasani.
Mahannad Al Balushi said the participation of professional players from countries including Australia, Iran and Bahrain had intensified competition and exposed local players to different playing styles.
He said the tournaments also provided opportunities to identify emerging talent and assess players’ progress across age groups.
Al Amerat coach Ali Abdulrasool Jabri said competitors from France, Iran, Bahrain and other countries had raised the standard of play and given Omani players valuable competitive experience.
Jabri credited support from the club’s leadership and the players’ efforts for the team’s success, adding that he hoped their preparation would translate into strong performances in upcoming competitions, including the Arab Championship.
The senior final concluded a programme of individual and team competitions organised by the Oman Table Tennis Association across several age categories.
Quriyat won the under-13 team title ahead of Ibri and Yanqul. Al Amerat took the under-15 crown, with Saham second and Ibri third, while Ibri won the under-18 competition ahead of Al Amerat and Saham.
In the individual events, Quriyat’s Al Yaman bin Sulaiman Al Hasani won the under-13 title. Yanqul players Al Yazid Al Alawi and Fahad Al Alawi finished second and third respectively.
Saham’s Nasser Al Zaabi won the under-15 event ahead of teammate Ali Al Ajmi, with Al Amerat’s Turki Al Abri taking third.
Ibri’s Ahmed Al Riyami claimed the under-18 title, followed by Al Abri in second and Al Ajmi in third.
Abdullah bin Khamis Ambusaidi, vice-president of the Oman Olympic Committee, attended the closing day and said performances during the season reflected efforts to develop young players and improve their technical skills.
He called for wider participation in table tennis across Oman’s clubs and governorates, saying cooperation between the association, clubs and other stakeholders would be essential to developing future national team players.
Association president Abdullah bin Mohammed Bamakhlaf praised clubs for their participation and thanked sponsors, partners and media organisations for supporting the season’s competitions.
He said continued partnerships would help expand participation and support the sport’s development.
