Muscat: Al Amerat Club managed to defeat defending Champions Seeb by 3-2 to lift the title of 2026 Oman Table Tennis Senior Teams Championship for the first time in the club’s history in this category in an exciting final on Sunday night at the main hall of the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher.
In the third-place playoff, Ibri Club beat Saham Club 3–1 to secure the bronze medal, leaving Saham in fourth place. The final concluding day was held under the patronage of Prof. Dr. Abdullah bin Khamis Ambusaidi, Vice-President of the Oman Olympic Committee. The event was attended by several presidents of sports federations and clubs, members of the Oman Table Tennis Association Board, and a large gathering of table tennis enthusiasts.
This season’s championship featured an improvement in the technical standard and competitiveness among participating clubs, particularly with the participation of professional players from several countries, including Iran, France, Australia and Bahrain. Their presence added further intensity to the competition and provided local players with valuable opportunities to gain experience and test themselves against players of different playing styles.
Al Amerat’s title triumph was the result of consistent performances throughout the tournament. The club topped Group One with eight points before continuing its impressive run in the knockout stages, defeating Taqah Club 3–0 in the quarter-finals and Saham Club 3–0 in the semi-finals. Amarat then completed its campaign with a hard-fought 3–2 victory over Seeb in the final.
The Oman Table Tennis Association (OTTA) concluded its individual and team competitions across the different age categories, with players and clubs earning honours in both formats. In the U13 individual category, Al Yaman bin Sulaiman Al Hasani of Quriyat Club claimed the title, while Al Yazid Al Alawi of Yanqul Club finished second and Fahad Al Alawi, also of Yanqul, took third place. In the U15 individual category, Nasser Al Zaabi of Saham Club secured first place, followed by club teammate Ali Al Ajmi in second, while Turki Al Abri of Amarat Club finished third. In the U18 individual competition, Ahmed Al Riyami of Ibri Club claimed the title. Turki Al Abri of Amarat Club finished second, while Ali Al Ajmi of Saham Club took third place.
In the senior individual category, Mahannad Al Balushi of Amarat Club won the title, with Nasser Al Balushi of Seeb Club finishing second and Ghassan Al Ghasani, also of Seeb, taking third place. In the U13 team competition, Quriyat Club claimed first place, followed by Ibri Club in second and Yanqul Club in third. Amarat Club won the U15 team title, while Saham Club finished runners-up and Ibri Club secured third place after a competitive campaign. In the U18 team category, Ibri Club emerged victorious, with Amarat Club finishing second and Saham Club taking third place. Ibri’s success added another notable achievement to its record in this season’s competitions.
In the senior team category, Amarat Club secured the title after its thrilling 3–2 victory over Seeb Club in the final. The result marked the club’s first-ever senior team championship, while Seeb finished runners-up. Ibri Club claimed third place after defeating Saham Club 3–1 in the playoff.
Promising Young Talents
Prof. Dr. Abdullah bin Khamis Ambusaidi, Vice-President of the Oman Olympic Committee, said the successful conclusion of the table tennis season reflected the efforts being made to develop the sport in the Sultanate of Oman. Speaking after the championship, Ambusaidi said the Oman Table Tennis Association was doing important work to prepare young players and develop their technical abilities, adding that their progress had been evident in the performances throughout the season.
He also praised the high standard of the final, which featured experienced players capable of competing at a strong level. Ambusaidi stressed that the next phase should focus on expanding participation in table tennis and strengthening its presence across clubs and governorates throughout Oman. He emphasised the importance of coordinated efforts between the association, clubs and relevant stakeholders to introduce the sport to a wider base of young people. He concluded by commending the constructive cooperation among the various parties, noting that continued collaboration was essential to developing Omani table tennis and discovering more talented players capable of representing the national teams in upcoming competitions.
Bamakhlaf Praises Clubs and Partners
Abdullah bin Mohammed Bamakhlaf, President of OTTA, expressed his satisfaction with the successful conclusion of the season’s championships and competitions. He praised the cooperation shown by clubs and their active participation in the federation’s programmes and activities throughout the year. Bamakhlaf congratulated all clubs that secured top positions, commending the performances of their players and the efforts of their technical and administrative teams. He also wished success to clubs that had not reached the leading positions, expressing hope that future seasons would bring even stronger competition and further improvements in technical standards.
He also praised the effective partnerships with sponsors and supporters who contributed to the success of the association’s programmes and activities, highlighting the importance of such partnerships in creating favourable conditions for the sport’s development and expanding its participation base.
Bamakhlaf also thanked media organisations and Oman Sports TV for their interest in covering the federation’s programmes and activities, noting their important role in highlighting the efforts of players and clubs and promoting the achievements of Omani table tennis.
An Exceptional Season
Mahannad al Balushi expressed his delight at winning both the senior individual title and the team championship with Amarat Club, describing the current season as different and exceptional due to the increased level of competition and the participation of professional players from several countries, including Australia, Iran and Bahrain. He said the presence of players with diverse technical backgrounds had added greater intensity and excitement to the competitions and raised the overall standard of play.
Al Balushi noted that the championship was important not only for competing for titles but also for identifying promising talents and monitoring the development of players across different age groups.
He added that the emergence of young players highlighted the potential within Omani table tennis and underlined the importance of continuing to organise tournaments that provide them with opportunities to gain experience through competition. He expressed hope that the championship would continue to develop and achieve further success in future editions.
High Technical Standard
Ali Abdulrasool Jabri, coach of Amarat Club’s table tennis team, praised the high technical standard of the championship and expressed appreciation for the continued support provided by the club’s president throughout the competition. He also thanked Amarat’s players for their outstanding performances and efforts.
Jabri said the tournament featured players with varied technical abilities and levels of experience, including competitors from France, Iran, Bahrain and other countries. Their participation strengthened the competition and gave local players valuable opportunities to test their abilities and gain further experience.
He added that the standard of play reflected the development of the championship, expressing hope that future editions would see further improvements in both organisation and technical quality, enhancing the tournament’s standing and giving players more opportunities to demonstrate their abilities.
Jabri concluded by expressing his hope that his team and Omani players would continue to deliver strong performances in upcoming competitions, particularly the Arab Championship, reflecting the work and preparation undertaken and contributing to positive results for Omani table tennis.