As’ad and Abdullah square off in Omani singles final
MUSCAT: As’ad Al Raisi and Abdullah Al Zaabi will clash for the Omani singles crown at the Villeroy & Boch + Hansgrohe Open Table Tennis Tournament organised by the Indian Social Club (ISC) at the grand finale of the tournament on Sunday.
Second seed As’ad Al Raisi of Seeb Club has been in prolific touch and progressed to the final of the Omani singles after surviving a stubborn showing by third seed Ismail Al Suleimani of Nizwa before out playing him in six games 11-5, 11-5, 9-11, 11-7, 9-11, 15-13.
In a thrilling semifinal encounter, As’ad looked like coasting to a comfortable victory having won the first two games comfortably. Ismail won the third and fifth games and was hot on As’ad’s heels in the sixth game before the left-handed second seed held his nerves and edged into the final.
As’ad’s opponent in the final will be Abdullah Al Zaabi who upset fourth seed Al Khalil Al Brashdi in the quarterfinals and earned his place in the final after overcoming giant-killer Sami Al Jabri to had accounted for defending champion Anwar Al Balushi in the quarters.
In the semifinal, Abdullah rallied to defeat Sami 11-13, 11-4, 11-8, 12-10, 11-9. Sami started on a positive note and won a tight first game but Abdullah opened up to win the second convincingly. It was thrilling stuff thereafter as Abdullah and Sami played some brilliant attacking table tennis. Fortunes fluctuated before Abdullah won the third game and rallied to win the fourth. Sami continued to put pressure on Abdullah who held on to the early lead to clinch a place in the final.
Al Jabri duo, Sami and Maher will contest the men’s doubles final also to be played on Sunday. In an exciting semifinal, Sami and Maher who had upset the top seeds in the quarterfinals, showed brilliant understanding to send back the fourth seeded Omani-India pair of Asad Al Raisi and R. Subramanian in six thrilling games.
Sami and Maher won 11-9, 6-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6. In the final, they will take on the second seeded all-Egyptian team of Mohammed El Naggar and Wardany Hamdy who defeated Ayman Al Farsi and Yamen Al Zadjali 11-6, 11-3, 13-11, 11-7 in the semi final.