Anwar Makki recovers to retain title at Oman Gas Company Open Championships
13 Dec 2016
A severe test in the final but Bahrain’s Anwar Makki stood firm to retain his Men’s Singles title at the four day 2016 Oman Gas Company Open Championships, which concluded in the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher on Sunday 11th December.
Organised under the auspices of the Oman Table Tennis Federation, the second year of the tournament, Anwar Makki was required to recover from a two games to nil deficit against Jordan’s Ziyad Aziz to claim the top prize. Eventually, he succeeded in six games (8-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-7, 11-4).
The podium (left to right) Mahmoud bin Mohammed Al Amri, Anwar Makki and Abdullah Ba Makalef (Photo: courtesy of Mohamed Atoum)
by Ian Marshall ITTF Publications Editor (Interview by Mohamed Atoum)
Anwar Makki received a cheque for US$ 3,000, for Ziyad Aziz it was $2,000. Meanwhile Hassan Abdul Jomaa and Hamad Bu Haji, like Anwar Makki, both from Bahrain, finished in third and fourth places respectively. Each was rewarded for their efforts; Hassan Abdul Jomaa received US$ 1,000 for Hamad Bu Haji it was US$ 500.
Medallists in the Men’s Singles event (left to right) Hassan Abdul Jomaa, Anwar Makki Ziyad Aziz (Photo: courtesy of Mohamed Atoum)
Prize money for the top four names; there was also prize money for the losing quarter-finalists; for Egypt’s Ahmed Helmy, Kuwait’s Marzouq Rashidi, Lebanon’s Fadi Kiwan and Jordan’s Zaid Yousef it was US$200.
“I would like to thank the Oman Table Tennis Federation for a very well organised tournament; also I thank the Oman Gas Company for their support. The final was really difficult. I was losing two-nil and I was down 8-4 in the third. I tried to make sure that I was focused, kept my eye on the ball and kept attacking as much as I could; after winning the third game I started to play better.” Anwar Makki
Kuwait’s Rashidi Mazouk reached the last eight (Photo: courtesy of Mohamed Atoum)
The prizes at the award ceremony were presented by Mahmoud bin Mohammed Al Amri, the Oman Gas Company General Manager for Engineering and Abduallah Mohamed Ba Makhalef, President of the Oman Table Tennis Federation. Notably, also present was Fahad Abdullah Al Raisi, General Manager at Ministry of Sports Affairs.
Furthermore, flight tickets were awarded to spectators by the Al-Arabia Airline as well as perfume from the Alwedad Perfume Store.
Mohammed Bannout of Lebanon (nearest camera) faces Egypt’s Ahmed Helmy in the first round of the Men’s Singles event: Ahmed Helmy progressed to reach the quarter-finals (Photo: courtesy of Mohamed Atoum)
Earlier on Thursday 8th December, a one day an event for veterans had been held in which 38 players from as far afield as Italy, Iran and Jordan participated.
An innovative competition with the leading four players qualifying for the Men’s Singles event which started one day later. Italy’s Leandro Morini emerged as the winner with Jordan’s Abdul Al Aziz being the runner up. The losing semi-finalist were Iran’s Abdul Al Rasool and Al Jabri.
An outstandingly successful tournament; overall 52 players, representing the national associations of Bahrain, Egypt, India, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Nigeria, Philippines, Saudi Arabia and Syria.
A splendid venue in Oman, the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex (Photo: courtesy of Mohamed Atoum)
