Table tennis: Oman declares readiness to host Arab championships

Muscat: With all arrangements in place, Oman Table Tennis Committee declared their readiness to successfully host the Arab Table Tennis Championships later this month.
The 16th edition of Arab championships is scheduled to take place at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher from August 15 to 20.
Speaking at a press conference organised to brief the media about the championships, Oman Table Tennis Committee chief Abdullah bin Mohammed Ba Mukhalif said: “All arrangements are in place and we are ready to host a successful championship.”
“We are ready to host about 180 guests from 15 Arab countries and that includes players, coaches, technical and administrative officials,” he said.
Ba Mukhalif, who is also the chairman of the Organising Committee, added: “We are already to host two important meetings during the championships. On August 19 we will be hosting a meeting of the chairpersons of the participating Arab table tennis bodies and on August 18 a meeting of the Arab Table Tennis Federation Executive Office.”
The press conference was also attended by Organising Committee member Sajad bin Mohammed Al Lawati and Oman national team coach Mohammed Amin A’atoum.
Al Saadi to inaugurate
Besides hosts Oman, the teams taking part in the championships are Qatar, Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Comoros, Somalia, Mauritania, Djibouti, Sudan, Tunisia, Algeria, Palestine and Yemen.
The championships will be officially inaugurated by Minister of Sports Affairs Sheikh Saad bin Mohammed Al Mardhouf Al Saadi on August 15 while Sayyid Saud bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Minister of State and Governor of Muscat, will preside over the closing ceremony on August 20.
Oman players ready
Meanwhile, Oman team’s coach Mohammed Amin A’atoum said his wards are hoping for good results in the championships.
“Our players have undergone intensive training in the run up to the chamionships and we are hoping for good results in all categories,” the Jordanian coach said.
Oman will be represented by Asaad Al Raisi, Abdullah Al Zaabi, Al Khalil Al Barashdi (open category), Haitham Al Mantheri, Al Jalandi Al Kharousi, Nasser Al Balushi (youth category), Abdulmalik Al Balushi, Abdullah Al Shuhi, Misha’al Al Shuhi, Al Munther Al Isa’yei, Mohammed Al Balushi, Muaz Al Balushi, Ahmed Al Riyami, Omar Al Ghassani and Ayman Al Shahi (junior category).