logo
Oman thrash Kuwait in West Asia volley tourney

Oman thrash Kuwait in West Asia volley tourney

Observer6 days ago
MUSCAT: The Oman national men's volleyball team began its historic participation in the West Asia Men's Volleyball Championship with a well-deserved and exciting straight-sets victory (3-0) over Kuwait. The match took place at the Isa Bin Rashid Hall in the Bahraini capital, Manama, as part of Group B competition in the championship, which continues until July 27 with the participation of eight teams from the West Asia region.
From the outset, Oman displayed a disciplined and cohesive performance, asserting dominance throughout most of the match while executing head coach Reza Hossein Vakili's tactical instructions effectively. The Iranian coach's thorough preparation was evident in the team's impressive continental debut.
The Omani team is now preparing for a challenging match on Monday against Saudi Arabia
Despite Kuwait's strong start and early lead in the first set, the Omani players entered the court with visible confidence. As the set neared its decisive moments, Oman regained control, relying on powerful back-row attacks and improved service and reception to clinch the set 25-23. The second set saw complete Omani superiority.
The team excelled in blocking and powerful serves, coupled with varied offensive plays that unsettled the Kuwaiti side, who struggled to match Oman's high tempo. Oman won the set with a wide margin, 25-15. In the third set, Kuwait attempted a comeback and delivered a more composed performance. However, Oman maintained its rhythm through tactical discipline and composure under pressure. After several lead exchanges, the Omani players sealed the set 25-23, completing a straight-sets win.
Oman team recorded five aces and scored 10 points through blocks
Oman scored a total of 75 points in the match, committing only 12 errors. The team recorded five aces and scored 10 points through blocks, reflecting a balanced performance on both offence and defence. Star player Ismail al Haidy stood out, earning the 'Best Player of the Match' award after scoring 13 points, 11 from attacks, one ace, and one block, affirming his role as a key contributor to the victory.
The Omani team is now preparing for a challenging match today, Monday, against Saudi Arabia in the third round of group-stage matches. Buoyed by their opening victory, Oman aims to build momentum, while Saudi Arabia is looking to bounce back from a straight-sets defeat to Qatar, adding urgency to the encounter for both sides.
Oman regained control, relying on powerful back-row attacks and improved service and reception to clinch the set 25-23
Coach Reza Hossein acknowledged the difficulty of the upcoming match against Saudi Arabia, despite previously playing friendlies against them. Mental focus is the key to winning these types of matches, he noted. We've prepared the players well and are working seriously to achieve a positive result against one of the top contenders.
The first round of the tournament was marked by Gulf dominance, with the UAE beating Jordan, Bahrain defeating Lebanon, Oman overcoming Kuwait, and Qatar overpowering Saudi Arabia all by straight sets (3-0). This trend highlights the strength of Gulf teams in this edition and sets the stage for fierce battles ahead in the race toward the semifinals.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Oman fall to Qatar in West Asia semifinals
Oman fall to Qatar in West Asia semifinals

Observer

timean hour ago

  • Observer

Oman fall to Qatar in West Asia semifinals

MUSCAT: Oman's national volleyball team saw their dream of reaching the final of the West Asian Men's Championship come to an end after suffering a straight-sets defeat to Qatar in the semifinals. The match was held at the Isa Bin Rashid Hall in Isa Town, Kingdom of Bahrain. The encounter was marked by clear dominance from the Qatari side, who capitalised on Oman's errors especially in serving and blocking to claim victory with set scores of 25-18, 25-19, and 25-20. STRONG START BY QATAR, SCATTERED OMANI RESISTANCE Qatar began the match with high intensity, setting the tempo both offensively and defensively. With a well-organised block and effective backline coverage, they quickly exposed Oman's weaknesses, particularly in serve reception and missed serves. Despite individual efforts from Ismail al Haidy, Mahmood al Saadi, and Younis al Amri, the first set went to Qatar 25-18. In the second set, Oman showed clearer intent to recover and improve. The introduction of Adam al Juradi injected some energy into the team, helping Oman level the score at 11-11. However, Qatar regained control through cohesive play and effective counterattacks, eventually taking the set 25-19. The third set began on a relatively even footing, with the score tied at 2-2 before Mohammed al Muqbali put Oman ahead briefly. Yet, a service error from Yousuf al Shukeili allowed Qatar to equalise, and from there they gradually took over, exploiting Oman's poor receptions. Qatar sealed the set 25-20 and the match 3-0. STATS HIGHLIGHT THE GAP Match statistics underscored the disparity between the two sides. Qatar scored a total of 75 points to Oman's 57, committing only 15 errors compared to Oman's 25. Qatar registered two direct service aces, while Oman failed to record any, and committed 10 service errors compared to Qatar's six. In blocking, Qatar recorded 11 points to Oman's six. Individually, Qatar's Youssef Jalaf stood out with 14 points (12 from spikes and two from blocks), while Oman's top scorer, Ismail al Haidy, managed only 11 points and committed five errors. BAHRAIN BOOK FINAL SPOT In the other semifinal, Bahrain secured their place in the final with a 3-1 victory over Saudi Arabia. Despite losing the first set 28-26, Bahrain rallied to win the next three sets 25-16, 25-22, and 25-22. They will now face Qatar in the final. Iranian coach Reza Hossein Vakeeli expressed disappointment with the outcome, stating that the team failed to deliver the expected performance and that both individual and tactical errors cost them a place in the final. Qatar played very well and deserved to win, said Vakeeli. But we made many mistakes, especially in serving and reception.

Oman athletes shine at FISU Games
Oman athletes shine at FISU Games

Observer

timean hour ago

  • Observer

Oman athletes shine at FISU Games

MUSCAT: Oman's beach volleyball team made a strong impression at the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games as the men's duo of Yousef al Abri and Al Yaqdhan al Saadi concluded their journey in the Round of 16. The global multi-sport event, hosted in Germany, featured top university athletes from around the world competing at elite levels. The Omani pair faced off in the knockout stage against Lithuania's strong duo Danielius Cumakas and Karolis Paubinskas. Despite a spirited performance, the Omani team suffered a 2-1 defeat. The Lithuanian side took the opening set 21-17, but al Abri and Al Saadi showed remarkable resilience by claiming the second set 21-13. The decisive third set saw the Lithuanian duo regaining control and sealing their victory with a 15-13 scoreline, thus ending Oman's impressive run in the tournament. Oman's campaign began with a thrilling group stage encounter in group D against world leaders Australia, represented by Jed Walker and Oliver Merritt. Despite falling behind in the first set by 21-15, the Omani team made a strong comeback in the second set to win 21-18. In a nail-biting decider, the Australian pair narrowly edged past with a 15-13 victory. Part of Oman's beach volleyball participation at FISU World University Games In their second group stage match, Oman's al Abri and al Saadi bounced back in style by defeating Hungary's Boldizsar Borbely and Domonkos Doczi. Both sets were closely contested, but the Omani duo held their nerve to win 21-19 in both sets, securing a key victory in their qualification campaign. The final group stage match saw Oman secured their place in the Round of 16 with a default win over Moldova's pair Maxim Korsakov and Egor Dobcis, who withdrew from the competition. In athletics, Oman also recorded a significant milestone through sprinter Mohammed bin Hamdan al Suleimani in the men's 800m event. Competing in heat 4 of the opening round, al Suleimani clocked a season best time of 1:49.34, finishing fourth and advancing to the semifinals. His performance marked a promising step forward for Omani athletics at the university level. Oman's participation in the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 Games was represented by Oman University Sports Committee (OUSC) and it led by its chairman Dr Salim al Oraimi. The event provided a valuable platform for the Sultanate of Oman's student athletes who managed to gain international experience and compete among the best in the world. Oman's athletes delegation took part in different sports discipline including: table tennis, swimming and Taekwondo.

Oman Kite Festival 2025 wraps up with global participation
Oman Kite Festival 2025 wraps up with global participation

Muscat Daily

time6 hours ago

  • Muscat Daily

Oman Kite Festival 2025 wraps up with global participation

Sur – Oman Kite Festival 2025 concluded on July 24 after ten days of international competitions and coastal events held across several locations in the sultanate. Organised by Omran Group in collaboration with Oman Sail, Visit Oman and Oman Adventure Centre, the festival drew more than 90 athletes from around the world. The event aimed to promote adventure-based tourism by leveraging Oman's coastal geography and expanding the country's appeal as a destination for niche sports. The closing ceremony took place at The Beachfront in Sur, under the patronage of Dr Yahya bin Badr al Maawali, Governor of South Sharqiyah, in the presence of Dr Khamis Salim al Jabri, CEO of Oman Sail, and officials from partner entities and sponsors. The headline event – Oman Downwinder – featured four competitive legs: from Barr al Hikman to Masirah Island, then onward to Ras al Ruwais, followed by a route from the Pink Lagoons to Al Ashkharah, and concluding with a final stretch from Ras al Jinz to Ras al Hadd. Omani competitor Ayman bin Abdullah al Ghafri took first place in the Downwinder, ahead of Oman's Mukhtar bin Abdulkarim al Mujaini and Egypt's Ahmed Mohamed Gamal. Other races included the Kite Course at Barr al Hikman, the Coastal Race at Masirah Island and the Slalom event in Ras al Hadd. In the Slalom race held in Sur, Majid al Kharousi secured first place. Sultan bin Sulaiman al Khudoori, Assets Manager at Omran Group, congratulated participants and reaffirmed the festival's alignment with Oman's National Tourism Strategy 2040, which promotes sports and experience-led tourism. Shaima Said al Asmi, Events Specialist at Oman Sail, noted the importance of such events in supporting local economies and encouraging entrepreneurship. 'Each event has the potential to contribute to the tourism sector in governorates across Oman,' she said. Known for its maritime heritage, Sur provided the backdrop for the festival's finale. A strong public turnout highlighted growing domestic interest in marine sports and the potential of these to boost tourism and related services. Organisers noted that the festival continues to position Oman as a destination for adventure sports, while helping promote the country's natural assets to global sporting communities.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store