Muscat: The Oman Hockey Federation recently convened a press conference to unveil the comprehensive details of the Oman Open Hockey Championship for Hockey Fives 2024, scheduled to take place from September 8 to 11.
The assembly was graced by the presence of Dr. Marwan bin Jumaa Al Jumaa, the esteemed Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Federation, alongside the Technical Director of the Championship, Faisal bin Habib Al Balushi, representatives from the participating teams, and a delegation of journalists and local media personnel. During the course of the press conference, the tournament draw was conducted, and the commencement date of the competitions was announced.
Dr. Marwan bin Jumaa Al Jumaa, in his remarks during the press conference, stated, "The inauguration of the Oman Hockey Open Championship for Hockey Fives 2024 is an initiative aimed at broadening the reach of the sport of hockey fives within the Sultanate of Oman. This championship has garnered participation from a diverse array of entities and organizations, including military sectors, governmental agencies, and private companies. This event marks a continuation of the Oman Hockey Association's commitment to the promotion and development of hockey fives."
He further elaborated, "The Oman Hockey Open Championship for Hockey Fives 2024 is a testament to the growing popularity of hockey fives among athletes at both club and national team levels. The national hockey fives team has achieved notable success, securing third place in the World Cup for hockey fives, hosted by Oman in January at the Oman Hockey Stadium in Al Amerat. Additionally, the national team has been recognized as the second-ranked team globally by the International Hockey Federation. The organizing committee for the Oman Hockey Open Championship for Hockey Fives has established stringent conditions and regulations that align with international standards."
He concluded, "The five-a-side game is perfectly suited to the conditions, nature, and capabilities of the participating teams. We anticipate a tournament filled with intense rivalry, competition, and excitement among the teams. Several teams will be represented by players from national hockey teams, further enhancing the level of competition."
Faisal bin Habib Al Balushi, the esteemed technical director, elucidated on the tournament's competitive structure: In the initial stages, the participating teams are allocated to two distinct groups via a randomized draw, initiating a two-round league format. Subsequently, in the culminating rounds, the fourth-placed teams from each group engage in a match to ascertain the seventh and eighth positions, while the third-placed teams from each group compete for the fifth and sixth places. The semi-final round features a unique format, with the first-placed teams from each group facing off against the second-placed teams, and vice versa.
The teams that do not advance to the final rounds will compete for the third and fourth positions, while the victorious teams from the semi-final matches will vie for the coveted first and second positions. The matches are scheduled to be held on the hockey fields at the prestigious Oman Hockey Complex, located within the Wilayat of Al Amerat.
