Action during the semi-finals of the Amir Cup Table Tennis Championship.
Doha, Qatar: Al Arabi and Qatar SC will battle for the Amir Cup Table Tennis title for the seventh time in history after claiming hard-fought wins in their respective semi-final clashes at Al Arabi Club Hall.
Al Arabi advanced to the title clash with a narrow 3-2 victory over Al Khor, while Qatar SC booked their ticket to the final by defeating Al Sadd 3–2.
Qatar SC, chasing their eighth overall title, will be out to avenge their defeat in last year’s final to Al Arabi which ended their impressive six-year winning streak. Before going down to Al Arabi in the finals last year, Qatar SC held on to the title continuously from 2018 to 2023. Previously they had won the title in 2002, also defeating Al Arabi in the finals. On the other hand, Al Arabi aim to defend the title and win a seventh Amir Cup crown.
Al Arabi enjoyed title triumphs in 1999, 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2014 before last year’s victory. Incidentally, three of their title wins have come against Qatar SC.
Following the thrilling semi-final match-ups, Qatar Table Tennis Association Secretary General Mohammed Abdullah Saleh was expecting a thrilling title clash between the two teams who have been phenomenal in the competition.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Saleh also confirmed that – by reaching the final – Al Arabi and Qatar SC have also earned berths in the Arab Clubs Table Tennis Championship, to be held in Muscat next September. Al Arabi’s table tennis head Hussein Al Haddad commended the impressive display by his players, emphasising the team’s resilience in the semi-final thriller against Al Khor.
Al Arabi’s Belarusian coach Oleg Shmit predicted the final will be fiercely competitive given Qatar SC’s recent run of form.
Speaking at the event, Qatar SC Table Tennis Vice President Abdul Qader Al Ariqi made the club’s intentions clear, noting that the team aspire to continue the winning streak after securing multiple titles this season.
Coach Mohammed Amin Al Atoum echoes his sentiments, stressing that his players have prepared thoroughly to bring the Cup home for an eighth time.
Qatar SC have been enjoying a strong domestic campaign, including victory over Al Rayyan to claim the Federation Cup as well as the Junior League crown.
