5 days ago
Oman beat Bahrain after Khorfakkan loss
MUSCAT, JULY 16
The Omani national wheelchair basketball team secured an important victory over the Bahraini Al Ittihad team with a score of 68-49, as part of the 9th West Asian Club Championship, hosted in the Jordanian capital, Amman, from July 13 to 19, 2025. The tournament is held under the supervision of the Asian Federation and hosted by the Ajyal Al Ghad Club, with matches taking place at Prince Hamzah Hall in the Hussein Youth City.
The Omani team started the game cautiously in the first quarter, struggling to penetrate the Bahraini defense, which resulted in a limited number of points. On the other hand, the Bahraini team capitalised on fast breaks and ended the first quarter ahead 13-8.
At the start of the second quarter, Oman's players showed a clear offensive resurgence, led by the outstanding Younis al Toubi, who scored several points from mid-range shots and drives to the basket, alongside precise movements from Hafidh Awlad Ahmed. The Omani team dominated the quarter, scoring 20 points to Bahrain's 8, overturning the score and ending the first half ahead 28-21. In the third quarter, the team continued its strong performance, displaying solid defensive organisation that limited Bahrain's offensive threat. Meanwhile, the attacking line remained effective, adding 20 points against the opponent's 16, extending the lead to 11 points by the end of the quarter (48-37). The fourth quarter saw a peak in Oman's performance, as the team intensified its defensive pressure and closed off spaces to Bahrain's key players, forcing them into multiple errors. The Omani team took advantage of these moments to score another 20 points, compared to 12 for Bahrain, sealing a comfortable win at 68-49. Standout performers in the match included Younis al Toubi with 34 points, Hafidh Awlad Ahmed with 22 points, and Ali al Ghasini, who added 6 points all contributing significantly to Oman's dominance. The team had started its campaign with a loss against UAE's Khorfakkan Club, 43-65, in a match marked by several defensive and offensive errors. The quarter scores were: 13-19, 10-24, 8-16, and 12-5, as the team struggled to keep up with the fast-paced performance of their Emirati counterparts. The Sultanate of Oman's delegation includes: Mohammed al Hinai as the head of delegation, Hamoud al Amiri as head coach, Moosa al Siyabi as assistant coach, and ten players: Zaher al Otaibi, Hafidh Awlad Ahmed, Younis al Toubi, Ali al Ghasini, Ahmed al Numani, Maktoum al Muqbali, Khamis al Masoudi, Ashraf al Khasibi, Amjad al Wahaibi, and Salem al Hashami.
The national team hopes to deliver strong performances in the upcoming matches and compete for top positions, reflecting the development of the sport in Oman and the growing support for para-sports.
