Thursday 26 / December / 2024
MUSCAT: World's top paddlers will be in action when the 2023 Muscat WTT Contender will kick off on Sunday at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex. Nearly 150 paddlers representing 34 countries will take part in the tournament, which will begin with the preliminary qualification rounds in men’s singles and women’s singles on Sunday.
Organised by the Oman Table Tennis Association (OTTA), the event offers a total cash prize of US$75,000 in five different disciplines including men’s and women’s singles and doubles beside the mixed doubles.
Six paddlers from Oman have been picked to compete in the event. They are Muhannad Al Balushi, Asaad Al Raisi, Ahmed Al Riyami, Badar Al Jassasi, Mohammed Al Mutawa and Loqman Al Farsi.
In the men’s singles qualification round beginning on Sunday, Muhannad Al Balushi will take on Huang Yan-Cheng from Chinese Taipei in round two while Asaad Al Raisi will meet Li Hon Ming from Hong Kong in round one. Mohammed Al Mutawa will face Chan Baldwin from Hong Kong in round one while Ahmed Al Riyami will face Pau Yik Man from Hong Kong. Loqman Al Farsi will play against Bence Majoros of Hungary. All preliminary round are knockout format with the winner playing three rounds to earn a spot in the main round, which will be played from Wednesday to Saturday.
Peter Bohumsky from the Czech Republic has been named the chief referee while four umpires from Egypt, Iran and Bahrain will officiate in the tournament along with several umpires from Oman.
This is the third time the prestigious WTT Contender is being organised in Muscat after the previous two successful editions in March and September 2022.
