Huge response for Oman Junior and Cadet Open

Muscat: The Oman Junior and Cadet Open, an ITTF Premium Junior Circuit event, received huge response from across the world even as the Oman Table Tennis Committee is gearing up to host a successful tournament.
The first global junior table tennis event to be organised in the Sultanate, the Oman Junior and Cadet Open is scheduled to take place at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex from February 7 to 11.
According to Oman Table Tennis Committee (OTTC) chief Abdullah bin Mohammed Ba Mukhalif, the tournament has attracted as many 114 entries from 19 nations.
Speaking a press conference organised to reveal the details of the event, Ba Mukhalif said: ““The championship will be officially inaugurated on February 7 be under the auspices of His Highness Sayyid Kamil bin Fahd Al Said, Assistant Secretary-General at the office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Council of Ministers.
“Minister of Sports Affairs Sheikh Saad bin Mohammed Al Mardhouf Al Saadi will preside over the closing ceremony on February 11.”
The championship will see the participation of players from China, India, Egypt, Czech Republic, Greece, Pakistan, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Sweden, Lebanon, Scotland, Syria, Thailand, Yemen and the Philippines besides hosts Oman.
During the occasion, Oman Table Tennis Committee also signed a new partnership agreement with SABCO, who are specialised in marketing in the sports field.
Speaking about the partnership agreement with SABCO, Ba Mukhalif said: “We are delighted over this strategic partnership which we hope would achieve the prescribed objectives.”
Nasser Al Rashidi, Marketing Manager of Sabco Sports, said: “Our partnership with the Oman Table Tennis Committee is part of our great interest in developing table tennis in the Sultanate.”
The committee also revealed the list of Omani players who will be taking part in the tournament.
In the under-12 category, Oman will be represented by Mohammed Al Muatawa’a, Ahmed Al Riyami, Omar Al Ghassani and Ayman Al Shahi.
The Sultanate’s under-14 team comprises Al Mundher Al Ghassani, Muaz Al Shahi, Essa Al Riyami, Abdulrahman Al Za’abi and Hussain Al Lawati while Mishal Al Shahi, Mohamed Al Balushi and Abdullah Al Balushi form the under-17 team.