Islamic Games: Oman’s Ismail, Wadha clinch team silver

Sports Wednesday 17/May/2017 19:38 PM
By: Times News Service
Islamic Games: Oman’s Ismail, Wadha clinch team silver

Muscat: Oman’s medal count went up to five in the Islamic Solidarity Games when the shooters Ismail Al Abri and Wadha Al Balushi clinched the silver medal in the mixed team 10m air pistol competition in Baku, Azerbaijan on Wednesday.
In the gold medal match, Ismail and Wadha did well but failed to stop local team of Rushan Lunev and NIgar Nasirova from winning the gold.
According to news posted on the Games official website, Lunev and Nasirova, after taking an early lead, saw off Wadha and Ismail for a 5-2 win.
In an all-Iran third place play-off, Haniyeh Rostamiyan and Vahid Golkhandan edged out Golnoush Sebghatollahi and Mohammad Ahmadi to claim bronze.
The achievement of Ismail and Wadha is Oman’s fifth medal of the Games. Ismail Al Abri had already won silver in the 50m pistol while fellow shooters Said Al Hashmi and Hamed Al Khatri bagged bronze medals in 25m rapid fire pistol and 50m Rifle 3 Position competitions. Star sprinter Barakat Al Harthy added to Oman’s tally when won 100m bronze on Tuesday.
Oman eye final spot
On Thursday, Oman football team will be hoping to ensure themselves of a medal by booking a place in the final when they take on Cameroon on a semifinal. The match is scheduled to start on 6.30 pm Oman time.
The other semifinal will pit hosts Azerbaijan against African side Algeria.
Considering the importance of the match, Hamad Al Azzani’s coaching staff are unlikely to tinker with the squad though the Omani coach is expected to some minor changes to the lineup.
The team will include custodian Bilal Jalal Al Balushi, Abdulaziz Al Ghailani, Salah Al Yahyaei, Ibrahim Al Suwafi, Mohsin Al Ghassani, Juma Al Mamari, Marwan Awlad Wadi, Juma Al Habsi, Ahmed Al Matroushi, Hassan Al Saadi and Majid Al Saadi in the starting eleven.
Tennis action
Oman’s Younis Al Rawahi, meanwhile, failed to clear the first hurdle in the tennis competition when he lost his first round match to Saudi Arabia’s Ammar Al Haqbani 6-4, 6-1.
Fatma Al Nabhani, Sultanate’s star player and women’s singles gold medal winner from 2013 Games in Indonesia, will start her compaign with a second round match against Anastasiya Prenko of Turkmenistan on Thursday.