logo
OTA launches intensive summer training in Egypt

OTA launches intensive summer training in Egypt

Observer5 days ago
MUSCAT: As part of the Oman Tennis Association's (OTA) efforts to prepare players for international competitions and enhance their technical levels, 14 male and female players are currently participating in a summer training camp in the Arab Republic of Egypt. This camp is part of the association's comprehensive preparation program, which targets various age groups. The camp will be conducted in two phases. The first phase runs from July 26 to August 15, while the second phase will be held from August 2 to 15. The training sessions are hosted at the 'Shamas Tennis Club Academy,' which is recognised as one of the top training institutions in the region.
This camp falls under the association's broader strategy, led by President Mutasim al Zadjali, to develop and refine the skills of national team players, with the goal of enabling them to compete effectively in regional and international tournaments and increase their continental and global ranking points.
The first phase includes players from the Under-14 and Under-18 categories. The Under-14 roster features Azan al Busaidy, Moataz al Mazrouei, Abdulrahman al Rahbi, Talia al Busaidy, Areen al Azkawi, and Salma al Riyami. This group is specifically preparing for the Arab Tennis Championship, which will take place in Tunisia from August 16 to 24, 2025.
In the Under-18 category, participants include Waleed al Hashmi and Aisha al Busaidy. The delegation is overseen by coach Sarah al Balushi from the Oman Tennis Association (OTA).
The second phase includes players in the Under-10 and Under-12 categories: Omar al Shaibani, Hatem al Rahbi, Hood al Hashmi, Mundhir al Amri, Imad al Rahbi, and Reema al Hashmi.
The training programme at the Shamas Tennis Club Academy includes both morning and evening sessions, five days a week (Sunday through Thursday). It focuses on technical, physical, and mental development, including skill drills, physical fitness, cognitive exercises, friendly matches, and nutrition sessions under expert supervision.
Mundhir al Barwani, Secretary-General of the Oman Tennis Association (OTA), stated that the association has consistently organised such training camps annually due to their significant role in enhancing players' technical abilities and preparing them to represent the national teams effectively. He emphasised that age-group players, especially those under 14, benefit from these preparatory programmes. He noted that the current camp serves as preparation for the upcoming Arab Championship in Tunisia and confirmed that the remaining players will also have opportunities to compete in upcoming regional and international events.
Al Barwani also highlighted the association's commitment to developing national team players by increasing their international exposure and organising high-quality training camps that help refine their talents. He added that Omani teams have participated in several international tournaments across various age groups recently and are preparing for upcoming challenges. He concluded by expressing the association's intention to host more tournaments, building on the successful organisation of several events in past years.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Oman clinch historic bronze at West Asia volleyball
Oman clinch historic bronze at West Asia volleyball

Observer

time16 hours ago

  • Observer

Oman clinch historic bronze at West Asia volleyball

MUSCAT, JULY 27 Oman's national men's volleyball team added a new milestone to its continental achievements by claiming the bronze medal in the 2025 West Asian Men's Volleyball Championship, following a well-earned 3-1 victory over Saudi Arabia in the third place playoff held at Isa Bin Rashid Hall in Isa Sports City, Bahrain. This marks Oman's first-ever medal in this regional tournament at the national team level and comes with a notable jump in the world rankings from 76th to 70th. The Omani team started strong in the first set, asserting control early on with a solid block from Saud al Maamari, followed by powerful attacks from Mahmoud al Saadi, giving Oman a 4-1 lead. With solid defensive organisation and standout mid-court strikes from Ismail al Haidi, Oman closed the set 25-19. In the second set, Saudi Arabia capitalised on Oman's offensive errors and lack of focus to bounce back and take the set 25-20. However, Oman regrouped in the third set, with Youssef al Shukaili excelling at the net and Al Haidi continuing his offensive dominance, leading to a 25-18 win. The fourth set was closely contested with continuous point exchanges, but Oman's experience shone in the final moments. Al Maamari and Al Saadi broke the Saudi momentum, sealing the set 25-22 and the match 3-1. Official match statistics revealed Oman's clear superiority in offensive efficiency, scoring 95 points to Saudi Arabia's 83. Oman registered six direct service aces and five successful blocks, offsetting 14 service errors thanks to strong mental focus and defensive coverage. Ismail al Haidi emerged as the match MVP, tallying 20 clean offensive points. Qatar Claims Gold; Al Haidi wins Best 'Spiker 2' Qatar clinched the championship title after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Bahrain in the final. Oman's Al Haidi was awarded Best "Spiker 2" for his composed performance and ability to shift the game tempo, particularly in the bronze medal match. In a post match statement, Al Haidi expressed his joy, calling the award a result of collective team effort from the preparation phase onward. "This award isn't mine alone, it belongs to everyone who supported me and stood behind the team. We played as one family, and our fighting spirit was the key to our success," he said. The tournament's awards highlighted standout performances across all positions, with Qatari star Renan Ribeiro being named the Best Player of the Championship. The award for Best Setter went to Bahrain's Mahmoud Al Afia. The Best "Spiker 4" honour was shared between Bahrain's Mohammad Yaqoob and Qatar's Nikola, both of whom impressed with their powerful attacking contributions. In the Best "Spiker 3" category, the award was jointly claimed by Bahrain's Hassan Al Warqa and Qatar's Bilal Abu Nabout. Qatar's Mahmoud Naji received the Best Libero award. Notably, Oman's Ismail al Haidi earned a well-deserved place among the elite by winning the award for Best 'Spiker 2,' recognising his impactful role and balanced play, particularly during the third-place match against Saudi Arabia. Oman Volleyball Association (OVA) President and West Asia Vice-President, Eng Ibrahim al Maqbali hailed the bronze medal as the result of a clear developmental plan and team effort. He noted the challenges Oman faces due to the disparity in professional resources, explaining, Our players participate as amateurs, while others rely on full-time professionals. We hope for partial player releases to aid future growth. Al Maqbali also praised Omani media coverage, stating it provided a significant morale boost for the players throughout the championship. He concluded by emphasising the importance of maintaining this momentum in upcoming tournaments. Oman and Saudi Arabia players in action

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

Observer

time2 days 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

time2 days 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.

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