04-07-2025
Oman Volleyball edge Saudi Arabia ahead of West Asia Championship
MUSCAT: The Oman national volleyball team clinched a valuable victory over Saudi Arabia in a closely contested five-set friendly match, winning 3–2. The match is part of the team's intense preparations for the upcoming West Asia Championship scheduled to take place in Manama, Bahrain later this month, The match was full of excitement and rivalry from the start until the tiebreak.
The match was filled with excitement and competitiveness from the first serve to the final point. Saudi Arabia took the first set 25–23 with strong serves that disrupted Oman's blocking. Oman responded dominantly in the second set, led by the attacking duo Saud al Maamari and Ismail al Haidi, to win 25–17.
In the third set, Saudi Arabia capitalised on Oman's receiving errors and powerful attacks to claim it 25–15. However, Oman bounced back in the fourth set with standout performances from Khamis al Amri in defence and Younis al Amri in attack, narrowly winning 29–27.
The Oman team blocked the Saudi attack
In the decisive fifth set, Oman showed remarkable fighting spirit. Despite Saudi Arabia's early lead, a clever point from Adam al Jalboobi turned the tide and Oman sealed the set 15–12, securing the overall victory.
The team is set to continue its friendly series, facing Saudi Arabia again on Saturday evening at 7:00 PM at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher. Two more matches are scheduled for Sunday and Tuesday.
Assistant coach Humaid al Maqbali commented that, "Some players didn't meet expectations, which is normal at this stage of preparation".
"However, we were encouraged by the strong comeback from the bench and the team's determination in the fifth set," he added.
Omani players are pressing forward to score
"All players participated in the match, continuing the rotation policy initiated during the Cairo training camp. The closeness in players' performance levels gives us greater tactical flexibility".
"Saudi Arabia was not initially part of Oman's training plans, but the friendly came at the invitation of the Saudi side, which was welcomed due to Oman's need for high-level matches".
Regarding injuries, Al Maqbali revealed that, "three players are under medical observation: Mahmoud al Saadi, who was injured in the Cairo camp; Hilal al Maqbali, who recently underwent surgery; and Khalid al Maqbali, currently undergoing knee rehabilitation".
Player Mohammed al Maqbali described, "We are currently in an intensive training camp, with sessions held both in the morning and evening. These matches are helping us finalise the lineup and improve team chemistry".
Omani players are pressing forward to score
"The team's performance improved gradually throughout the match, especially as Saudi Arabia fielded a completely new lineup. The coaching staff is focusing on strengthening core skills, such as reception, blocking and attack variations. We are working hard to reach optimal readiness," he ended.
West Asia Championship Draw Puts Oman in Tough Group
The draw for the inaugural West Asia Men's Volleyball Championship took place last Thursday in Manama. Oman was placed in Group B alongside Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, a challenging group that will demand a high level of preparation. Group A includes host nation Bahrain, the UAE, Jordan and Lebanon.
The championship will run from July 17 to 27 and is seen as an important milestone in the participating teams' buildup to upcoming continental tournaments. Expectations are high across the board, with strong technical ambitions from all participating Arab nations.
