Oman take on Azerbaijan in gold medal match at Islamic Games
While Fatma Al Nabhani stayed on course for tennis gold, Oman U-23 side are set to take on hosts Azerbaijan in football final on Sunday
MUSCAT: With just two days left before the curtains come down on the Islamic Solidarity Games in Azerbaijan’s capital city of Baku, Oman are eyeing golden glory both in the football and women’s singles competitions.
While the Sultanate’s tennis sensation Fatma Al Nabhani stayed on course for the gold medal after a quarterfinal victory over Theiviya Selva Rajoo of Malaysia in the women’s singles on Saturday, Hamad Al Azzani-coached Oman under-23 side have made it to the gold medal match of the football competition with a stun- ning 4-3 penalty shootout win over Cameroon on Thursday.
Oman are yet open their gold account, though they have won five medals of other hues, including two silver and three bronze.
So far Oman’s medals came through the efforts of shooters Ismail Al Abri (50m pistol silver), Ismail Al Abri and Wadha Al Balushi (mixed team 10m air pistol silver), Said Al Hashmi (25m rapid fire pistol bronze), Hamed Al Khatri (50m Rifle 3 Position bronze) and star sprinter Barakat Al Harthy (100m bronze).
In Saturday’s women’s singles quarterfinals of tennis competition, Fatma overcame a late challenge by Malaysian lass Theiviya Selva Rajoo for a 6-2, 7-6 (7-2) and a place in the last four stage.
The Omani girl, who won the singles gold in 2013 Games held in Indonesia, will now take on Turkey’s Ayla Aksu in Sunday’s semifinals. Ayla Asku advanced after defeating Komola Umarova of Uzbekistan 7-5, 6-2.
The women’s singles final will take place on Monday morning with the 2017 Games scheduled to conclude with a closing ceremony in the evening.
Meanwhile, Oman’s football team geared up for Sunday’s gold medal match with Azerbaijan with a rigorous training session under the watchful eyes of head coach Hamad Al Azzani and his assistants Mohammed Khamis Al Araimi and Badr Al Maimani.
The match, to be played at 30,000 capacity Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, will kick off at 9.00 pm Oman time. The third-place playoff match between Cameroon and Algeria will be played at the same venue from 2.00 p.m.
Oman team’s match eve training session was attended by Oman Football Association (OFA) vicechairman Dr. Jassim Al Shukaili and board member Ahmed Al Rashdi and Oman Delegation Director Salman Al Balushi.