Muscat: The Indonesian pair of Somi and Wildan claimed a grand double, sweeping the men’s doubles titles in Elite and Open categories at the inaugural Oman Grand Prix Badminton Tournament 2022, which concluded on Saturday.
The two-day tournament turned out to be a grand success with the participation of 155 shuttlers from Oman and neighbouring countries.
Organised by AMM Sports, in association with the Oman Badminton Committee, and held at the newly built indoor courts of the Muscat Badminton Club in Ghala, the prize-money tournament featured six categories.
Besides the Elite and Open in the men’s doubles, the other categories included men’s singles (Open), men’s doubles (Omani nationals), women’s doubles (Open) and kids’ team event.
It was a dominating display by the Abu Dhabi-based Indonesian duo and the “double doubles” meant that they returned home richer by OMR700 with OMR400 for the Elite doubles crown and OMR300 for the Open title.
In the Elite final, Somi and Wildan defeated Achyut and Asif while in the Open final, the pair beat Roshan and Shijas.
Akash won the men’s singles title denying Somi a chance for a hat-trick of titles. The pair of Salim Al Maqbali and Yahya Al Shibli won the doubles crown in the Omani nationals’ category with a victory over Thahir and Ahmed Al Barwani.
Elahe and Huda took the top honours in the women’s doubles, getting past the duo of Nimita and Christine while Team Fearless Fighters won the kids team event. Team Indian School Muscat finished runners-up.
The Muscat Badminton Club began its operations on 18 November 2021.
The club chairman Mohammed Jawad said: “In less than a year’s time we have attracted badminton lovers as the club provides good facilities for all types of shuttlers, young, aspiring and serious.”
Later, Khalifa Al Majrafi, general secretary of Oman Badminton Committee, and Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali, Chief Executive Officer of Muscat Media Group, were the guests of honour and gave away the prizes.