JEDDAH, 8 February 2007 — The Saudi table tennis team are now in a training camp to prepare for 10th Qatar Open International Championship to be held Feb. 13 to 17 and the Kuwait International Championship Feb. 19 to 23.
Russian coach Valerie has called in seven players to join the training camp namely Khalid Al-Harbi, Abdulaziz Al-Abbad, Mansour Alim, Naif Al-Jadai, Azzam Alim, Usamah Al-Muhaibis and Raad Al-Sharif. However, only four players will be picked for Qatar event which is putting up a total cash prize pot of $ 200, 000.
The Saudi team are banking on Al-Harbi and Alim of Al-Ahli club and Al-Abbad and Al-Jadai of Al-Ittihad mainly because of the quartet’s experience in local and international competitions.
According to national tennis table team manager Abdullah Al-Bar this championship is important for our athletes as they get the chance to meet international champions. “The financial awards make it very tempting for all to participate,” he said.
The competition will be predictably tough with the presence of the world champions and leading players from the Far East, China, and Korea in addition to Europe. “But these two events will give them a boost for the Gulf Cup in Dubai set for Feb. 28 to March 3,” Al-Bar said.
“It is very good for us to compete even if getting one of the three ranks would be difficult, but at least we would be encouraged to afterward maintain our level of performance and win the Gulf Cup in UAE,” said Khalid Al-Harbi, 31.
