Muscat: The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth represented by the Department of Specific Activities, organised the first 3×3 basketball tournament for higher education institutions.
The competition was held at Al Amal Club with the participation of 10 teams from various government and private universities and colleges in Oman including Sultan Qaboos University, the International College of Engineering and Technology, the Military Technical College, the Vocational College in Buraimi, the Gulf College, the Middle East College, the University of Buraimi, the University of Technology and Applied Sciences in Ibri, the University of Technology and Applied Sciences in Nizwa, and the University of Technology and Applied Sciences in Muscat.
The Sultan Qaboos University team was crowned with the first place, the University of Technology and Applied Sciences Nizwa team came in the second place, while the Gulf College team won the third place.
The closing ceremony of the championship was held under the patronage of Dr Ali bin Salam al Yarubi, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Omani Basketball Association, in the presence of Mohammed bin Ahmed al Ameri, Director General of Sports Activities at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, and a number of officials in the ministry and general public.
According to the Department of Specific Activities in the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, this is the first edition of the 3×3 basketball tournament to organise tournaments and competitions for colleges and universities in Oman.
The initiative was brought about for inculcating sports culture among the students. They indicated that there was a great turnout and a real desire of the students to participate in this type of sports tournaments. The department aims to expand the tournament base for women to participation, as well as to add some games, including football, handball and volleyball in next edition.