Quarterfinals kick off today amid intense competition
Published: 05:01 PM,Jan 14,2025 | EDITED : 09:01 PM,Jan 14,2025
Muscat, JAN 14
The quarterfinals of the Asian and International U14 Tennis Championship and the West and Central Asia Regional Qualifiers will begin today. The tournament is being held at the tennis courts of the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in the Wilayat of Bausher, with the participation of 13 countries. Yesterday’s Round of 16 witnessed a thrilling competition, setting the stage for even more excitement in today’s quarterfinals, especially after the strong performances showcased by the players during the first two days.
In the boys' Round of 16, Oman’s Moataz al Mazroui lost a hard-fought match against Syria's Karim Salim with scores of 7-5, 3-6, 6-3. Despite the loss, Al Mazroui delivered a solid performance. Kyrgyz player Kasim defeated Saudi Arabia's Ahmed Bahaq 7-6, 6-1, while the UAE’s Mohammed al Ali overcame Kuwait's Faisal al Mutawa with a comeback victory of 5-7, 6-2, 6-3. Kyrgyz player Asinov won against Bahrain’s Ali al Khayyat 6-2, 6-2, and Iraqi Hassan Gharib triumphed over Yemen’s Ayham Al Dhura 6-0, 6-3.
The Oman Tennis Association has appointed ten referees to officiate the tournament. Most of them are young Omanis who have earned certifications from previous courses organised by the association. The officiating team includes eight Omani referees and two international referees. They are Mohammed al Falahi, Abdullah al Yahyai, Maryam al Balushi, Aisha al Sulaimani, Warith al Shaibani, Abdulrahman al Hajri, Kartik, and Waziry. All referees are experienced and have previously officiated similar tournaments in past years.
Mishari al Mishari, head of the Kuwaiti delegation, expressed his happiness over the excellent organisation of the tournament, praising the high-quality preparations before and during the event. He credited the Oman Tennis Association for its significant efforts and extensive experience in managing such tournaments.
Al Mishari stated, 'We extend our gratitude to our brothers in Oman for their warm hospitality and thorough preparations. This level of organisation is no surprise, and we truly feel at home here. The tournament had a successful start.'
He also noted that Kuwait’s participation aims to earn ranking points and gain valuable experience. 'We have the youngest players registered in the tournament, and they achieved good results on the first day. The overall technical level of the tournament is strong, with many players delivering impressive performances and holding solid rankings, which is promising for the future of tennis in the region,' he added.
Bahraini player Ali al Khayyat, who was eliminated in the Round of 16, shared his satisfaction with participating in the tournament. 'I am happy to be part of this championship. We came to Muscat to earn ranking points and compete for top positions, as well as to gain technical experience. Tournaments like this help refine our skills, and we need more matches to continue developing.'
Al Khayyat praised the tournament’s organisation, saying, 'The technical level of the championship is excellent, with several standout players. We aim to make the most of this experience. Thanks to the organising committee for their excellent management and warm hospitality.'
The quarterfinals of the Asian and International U14 Tennis Championship and the West and Central Asia Regional Qualifiers will begin today. The tournament is being held at the tennis courts of the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in the Wilayat of Bausher, with the participation of 13 countries. Yesterday’s Round of 16 witnessed a thrilling competition, setting the stage for even more excitement in today’s quarterfinals, especially after the strong performances showcased by the players during the first two days.
In the boys' Round of 16, Oman’s Moataz al Mazroui lost a hard-fought match against Syria's Karim Salim with scores of 7-5, 3-6, 6-3. Despite the loss, Al Mazroui delivered a solid performance. Kyrgyz player Kasim defeated Saudi Arabia's Ahmed Bahaq 7-6, 6-1, while the UAE’s Mohammed al Ali overcame Kuwait's Faisal al Mutawa with a comeback victory of 5-7, 6-2, 6-3. Kyrgyz player Asinov won against Bahrain’s Ali al Khayyat 6-2, 6-2, and Iraqi Hassan Gharib triumphed over Yemen’s Ayham Al Dhura 6-0, 6-3.
The Oman Tennis Association has appointed ten referees to officiate the tournament. Most of them are young Omanis who have earned certifications from previous courses organised by the association. The officiating team includes eight Omani referees and two international referees. They are Mohammed al Falahi, Abdullah al Yahyai, Maryam al Balushi, Aisha al Sulaimani, Warith al Shaibani, Abdulrahman al Hajri, Kartik, and Waziry. All referees are experienced and have previously officiated similar tournaments in past years.
Mishari al Mishari, head of the Kuwaiti delegation, expressed his happiness over the excellent organisation of the tournament, praising the high-quality preparations before and during the event. He credited the Oman Tennis Association for its significant efforts and extensive experience in managing such tournaments.
Al Mishari stated, 'We extend our gratitude to our brothers in Oman for their warm hospitality and thorough preparations. This level of organisation is no surprise, and we truly feel at home here. The tournament had a successful start.'
He also noted that Kuwait’s participation aims to earn ranking points and gain valuable experience. 'We have the youngest players registered in the tournament, and they achieved good results on the first day. The overall technical level of the tournament is strong, with many players delivering impressive performances and holding solid rankings, which is promising for the future of tennis in the region,' he added.
Bahraini player Ali al Khayyat, who was eliminated in the Round of 16, shared his satisfaction with participating in the tournament. 'I am happy to be part of this championship. We came to Muscat to earn ranking points and compete for top positions, as well as to gain technical experience. Tournaments like this help refine our skills, and we need more matches to continue developing.'
Al Khayyat praised the tournament’s organisation, saying, 'The technical level of the championship is excellent, with several standout players. We aim to make the most of this experience. Thanks to the organising committee for their excellent management and warm hospitality.'