MUSCAT, DEC 11
Title holders Sohar were grouped in Pool A of the 54th edition of prestigious His Majesty’s Cup Hockey Championship and they will defend their title against Ahli Sidab, Al Nasr and Al Salam. The Pool B comprised Salalah, Seeb, Al Amerat and Dhofar clubs. The matches of the finals stage will begin on December 17.
The draw ceremony for Oman’s oldest sporting competition took place on Wednesday, under auspices of His Highness Sayyid Nasr bin Salim al Said. The event was attended by Oman Hockey Association (OHA) Chairman Dr Marwan bin Juma al Juma, top officials from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MoCSY), and other dignitaries.
This edition of the tournament featured 16 clubs including: Ahli Sidab, Seeb, Al Amerat, Qurayat, Dhofar, Al Nasr, Salalah, Al Ittihad, Mirbat, Sohar, Saham, Al Salam, Al Rustaq, Al Nahda, Al Shabab and Masirah.
The final stage of the championship will follow a single round-robin format, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semifinals. The winners of the semifinals will progress to the final match scheduled for December 24 while the losing teams will compete for third place. Matches will be held at hockey fields across Oman, including the Hockey Oman Stadium in Al Amerat.
During the ceremony, a documentary highlighting OHA’s domestic and international activities was screened. The association also honoured several key contributors to Omani hockey. Among them was Tarmah bin Al Hussein al Ajmi, the first Omani player to exceed 100 international matches. Joining him were Shaaban bin Ramadan al Balushi, a player since 1980 and a referee since 1991, and Abdulrahman bin Yahya al Raisi, a hockey veteran and international referee since 1993. Other honourees included referee Hussain al Hasani and international lecturers Abdullah al Harrasi, Khamis Talib and Mohammed Hubais. Additionally, Shakir Muneer was recognised for receiving the FIH Diploma of Merit during the FIH Congress held in November in Muscat.
Established in 1971, His Majesty’s Hockey Cup is one of Oman’s most prestigious sports championships. Oman Club dominated the early years, winning the inaugural title and securing victories through 1974. Since then, clubs like Al Ahli, Al Nahda, Muttrah, Seeb, and Ahli Sidab have left their mark on the tournament.
Sohar claimed their maiden title in 2021, followed by Al Nasr in 2022 and another Sohar victory in 2023.
The champions of this year’s edition will be awarded the prestigious trophy, 30 gold medals, and a cash prize of RO 40,000. The runners-up will receive 30 silver medals and RO 25,000, while the third-placed team will be honoured with bronze medals and RO 15,000.
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