MUSCAT — The tremendous interest generated by the New India Assurance Open Table Tennis Tournament organised by the Indian Social Club Muscat can be gauged from the fact that table-tennis players from as far as Sohar, Ibra, Nizwa and Al Rustaq have driven down all the way to participate in this popular tournament which is presented by the New India Assurance Company and co-sponsored by Khimji’s Watches, Supa Sportsman LLC, Muscat Pharmacy (Pocari Sweat & Oronamin C), Oxygen, Times of Oman and Al Shabiba.
The tournament has touched a new high as far as the Omani participation is concerned.
Twenty-four Omanis youths have registered for the singles and three teams, Al Ittefaq from Ibra, Nizwa Club and Al Rustaq Club have entered the team championships. On a hectic day that saw the first rounds of the Omani singles being played, Mohammed bin Hamed Al Harthy of Ibra, Mohammed Fajwani of Muscat, Ali bin Khalfan Al Mandhari of Nizwa and Said bin Abdullah Al Kharusi of Al Rustaq reached the semifinals. Mohammed Al Harthy stormed into the last four by virtue of a brilliant 11-8, 12-10, 11-7 upset victory over the top seed Ahmed Al Barwani in the quarterfinal stage.
In other quarterfinal matches, Mohammed Fajwani justified his No. 4 seeding and entered the semis after defeating Wayel Al Barwani 11-7, 9-11, 11-3, 11-4. Said Al Kharusi of Al Rustaq Club struggled before defeating Mohammed Al Barwani 12-10, 10-12, 11-6, 11-8 to move into the last four.
Completing the semifinal line-up of the Omani singles was Ali Al Mandhari of Nizwa Club who scored a 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8 upset victory over third seed Khalid Al Barwani.
In earlier matches of the Omani singles, Mohammed Al Barwani defeated Khalid Al Harthy 11-6, 11-9, 4-11, 9-11, 11-9, Yaqdhan Al Barwani scored a facile 11-5, 11-3, 11-4 win over Mohammed Al Tobi, Wayel Al Barawani beat Yaqoub Al Mandhari 11-9, 11-4, 11-7, Mohammed Fajwani defeated Saoud Al Sulaimani 11-3, 11-7, 12-10, Khalid Al Barwani beat Mohammed Abdullah 11-6, 11-8, 14-12, Abdullah Al Barwani overcame Bassam Al Ismaili 11-7, 11-5, 8-11, 11-6, Yaqoub Al Fahdi rallied to defeat Munthir Al Barwani 9-11, 11-2, 12-10, 11-6, Ahmed Al Barwani won 5-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9 over Malik Al Fahdi and Mohamed Al Barwani fought back to defeat Ismail Al Sulaiman 9-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-8.
Source: http://thewebtalk.net