Seeb, Al Salam post first-leg wins in semis
Muscat, April 22
Seeb Club claimed a deserved victory over Al Bashayer in straight sets (3-0) in the first leg of the First Division Volleyball League semifinals at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher on Monday.
The game began with a balanced rhythm as Al Bashayer opened the scoring through their professional player Islam. Seeb quickly responded via Bogdan, but Islam restored Al Bashayer's lead. Saud al Maamari then levelled the score for Seeb. The teams continued exchanging points until Bogdan scored twice in a row, putting Seeb ahead 4-2. Saud added another point, but Al Bashayer managed to narrow the gap before Russian player Artem scored for Seeb.
A serving error by Saud allowed Al Bashayer to close in, and Saman equalised at 6-6. As the intensity built, Ahmed al Toubi and Saud al Muqbali added back-to-back points for Seeb. The teams remained neck and neck, reaching a 23-23 tie. Bogdan put Seeb ahead, Saman responded, and Mazen gave Al Bashayer a 26-25 lead. However, Bogdan equalised again, Saud gave Seeb the edge, and a serving error by Islam handed Seeb the set 28-26.
In the second set, Al Bashayer started strong, but Seeb quickly bounced back with Saud scoring, followed by three consecutive points from Bogdan and Saud, making it 3-1. Al Bashayer tried to catch up through Mazen, but Artem responded with a powerful point. Islam scored for Al Bashayer, but Seeb maintained control, capitalising on repeated service errors from Al Bashayer and excelling in their blocking game.
Despite efforts by Haitham al Shaqsi to close the gap, service errors especially from Islam allowed Seeb to maintain a 16-14 lead. Al Bashayer fought back to level the set at 25-25. Bogdan then scored for Seeb, but a service error by Artem let Al Bashayer equalise. Still, Saud and Artem sealed the set 28-26 for Seeb.
Saud opened the third set with a point, answered by Islam. Seeb, however, quickly extended their lead to 3-1 through Saud and Bogdan. With organised play and Al Bashayer showing signs of decline, Seeb surged to a 15-9 advantage. Saud and Artem stretched the lead further, despite Islam's attempts to bring Al Bashayer back. Ultimately, Seeb closed the set and match convincingly at 25-16.
AL SALAM EDGE MAJEES
Al Salam took a big step toward reaching the First Division Volleyball League final after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Majees in the first leg of the semifinals, held at Sohar Sports Complex.
Set scores were: 25-21, 18-25, 23-25, 27-25, 20-18.
The match was marked by high intensity and fierce competition. Majees started strong, taking the first set by four points. However, Al Salam responded impressively in the second and third sets, led by standout performances from Mohammed Yaqoob and their foreign professional, putting them ahead two sets to one.
In the fourth set, Majees' foreign duo from Pakistan and Cameroon stepped up, helping their team recover and win the set after a dramatic tie. Yet Al Salam managed to edge out the decisive fifth set with a narrow 20-18 win, bringing them closer to a spot in the championship final.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
6 days ago
- Observer
Gauff and Andreeva sweep into French Open quarters
PARIS: Coco Gauff reached a fifth straight French Open quarter-final and was joined in the last eight by Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva, with Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic also seeking last-eight spots on Monday. World number two Gauff brushed Russian 20th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova aside 6-0, 7-5 to step up her pursuit of a first Roland Garros crown, and second Grand Slam title. "It was tough. The whole match I think I played well to be honest," said Gauff, a losing finalist in Paris in 2022. Former US Open champion Gauff will play reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys or unseeded Hailey Baptiste in an all-American quarter-final. Sixth seed Andreeva also moved through in straight sets as she cut short an attempted fightback by hitting partner and ex-compatriot Daria Kasatkina to advance 6-3, 7-5. Kasatkina, ranked 17, is now playing for Australia after switching allegiance from her native Russia. "It was a hell of a match," said Andreeva. "Honestly I'm so so happy I won, I hate playing against her, we practise a lot and even practice is a torture for me." She is through to her second major quarter-final, having reached the last four at Roland Garros 12 months ago when she knocked out Aryna Sabalenka. The 18-year-old Andreeva is the youngest woman to reach back-to-back Roland Garros quarter-finals since Martina Hingis in 1997-98. She next plays either third-ranked American Jessica Pegula or France's last remaining player in Paris, Lois Boisson. World number 361 Boisson is the lowest-ranked competitor left in the draw. "Obviously... (Boisson's) going to have some crazy support," said 2024 US Open runner-up Pegula. "I think it will be fun. It will be cool to be a part of that." Sinner will seek to light up the night session as the top seed clashes with Andrey Rublev, and 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic will renew his rivalry with Cameron Norrie. Last year's runner-up Alexander Zverev also takes to the court against Tallon Griekspoor. Italy's Sinner will look to continue his quest to make it three Grand Slam titles in a row when he takes on Russian 17th seed Rublev. The pair have met nine times in their career with Sinner holding the edge with six wins to three, but the former world number five emerged the victor in their only previous meeting at Roland Garros at the same stage in 2022. Sinner retired injured from that encounter but should come into Monday's headline match in fine nick after limiting his time on court so far this tournament by winning all his matches in straight sets. However, his opponent has spent even less time playing after receiving a walkover past France's Arthur Fils in the third round. "I have to be very careful. Andrey is an incredible player. I have to be focused. He's rested. So let's see what's coming," said Sinner. Djokovic, a three-time French Open winner, will have the chance to rack up 100 victories at Roland Garros when he faces Britain's Norrie. — AFP
Observer
29-05-2025
- Observer
Andreeva downs Krueger, Pegula advances at French Open
PARIS: Mirra Andreeva underlined her claycourt credentials again at the French Open when the Russian teenager methodically took apart Ashlyn Krueger, and third seed Jessica Pegula also moved into the third round on Thursday. Andreeva, a surprise Roland Garros semifinalist in 2024, confirmed her calibre on the sport's slowest surface with runs to the Madrid and Rome quarterfinals this season and she had to be at her inventive best to beat the powerful Krueger 6-3 6-4. The 18-year-old sixth seed found herself an early break down on Court Simonne Mathieu but fought back to secure the first set, before mixing up her game with exquisite sliced forehands in the next to see off her American opponent. US Jessica Pegula plays a backhand return. — AFP "This match wasn't easy, I'd lost to her at the US Open," Andreeva said, reflecting on her second-round defeat by Krueger in New York last August. "She's a powerful and aggressive player. I knew I had to play well ... I suffered and struggled with my serve, but I'm happy I found a way to stay calm. "I pushed myself to fight until the end." Pegula, Krueger's frequent doubles partner this season and French Open third seed, had to battle hard against fellow American Ann Li but found her best level when it mattered to prevail 6-3 7-6(3) in windy conditions. Up next for the 2024 US Open runner-up is former Paris finalist Marketa Vondrousova, after the Czech sent 25th seed Magdalena Frech packing 6-0 4-6 6-3. — Reuters
Observer
24-05-2025
- Observer
Oman in pot three ahead of U23 Asian Cup draw
MUSCAT, May 23 Oman Olympic team positioned in level three beside Singapore, India, Lebanon, Laos, Timor-Leste, Chinese Taipei, Philippines and China teams ahead of the official draw of the AFC U23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 qualifiers which will take place on Thursday at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur. As many as 44 teams including Oman team will eye to secure slot to the Asian finals in Saudi Arabia next year in January. The qualifiers will take place between September 1 and 9, 2025. Fifteen teams will move to the finals from the qualifying stage and vie for the Asian title in Saudi Arabia which is hosting this event for the first time in the history. The hosts Saudi Arabia confirmed their berth to the finals as they are hosting the event while 15 more teams will join them in the final. From the 11 groups, the toppers of each group will secure their slot to the finals while the overall four best-ranked runners-up will join to the final too. The qualifying matches will be played in next September in a centralised league format. The Asian teams distributed into different pots while Oman positioned in pot three. The distribution of the teams into different levels was based on a points system derived from their final rankings across the previous three editions of the Finals. coach Badar al Maimani The first pot included: Uzbekistan (1), Japan (2), Iraq (3), Korea Republic (5), Australia (7). In Pot two, Kuwait (14) topped this pot beside Islamic Republic of Iran (15), Turkmenistan (16), Malaysia (17), Bahrain (19), Palestine (20), Syria (21) and Yemen (22). Pot 3 featured Oman (25), Singapore (26), India (28), Lebanon (29), Laos (30), Timor-Leste (31), Chinese Taipei (32), Philippines (33) and China (34). Pot four comprised: Afghanistan (35), Bangladesh (36), Mongolia (37), Guam (39), Pakistan (41), Macau (42), Nepal (43), Brunei Darussalam (44), Sri Lanka (45), Bhutan (46) and Northern Mariana Islands (47). The last hosts Pot featured from: Vietnam (6; Seed: 1), Qatar (8;1), Thailand (9;1), Jordan (10;1), Tajikistan (11;1), United Arab Emirates (12;1), Indonesia (13;2), China PR (18;2), Cambodia (23;2), Myanmar (24;3), Kyrgyz Republic (27;3). On the other side, Oman Olympic U-23 team are underway in their domestic camp in Muscat. The team played friendly match against Royal Court Affairs team on Wednesday night and ended for the latter by 2-1. The following warm up fixture for the Olympic team will be against Royal Navy Oman team on May 30 before heading off to Moscow on June 1 for the external camp. Oman team, coached by Badar al Maimani, will meet Russia Olympic team in Moscow twice as part of the external preparatory camp which will take place in June. Oman team will eye to claim maximum technical output from the abroad camp in Moscow which will feature two friendly matches against Russia Olympic team and one more match against local Russian team. This camp in Russia will act as a key preparation stage for the team's preparations for the AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers which will begin in coming September.
