JEDDAH, 5 May 2008 — Defending champions Al-Ittihad opened their title defense on the wrong foot, dropping a 12-8 decision against Iran’s Abhar Azat in the 6th Asian Water Polo Championship for Clubs which got under way yesterday in Kuwait.
Another Saudi club, Al-Ahli, was also beaten, coming at the short end of a 7-4 verdict against Chinese club Juan Donj.
The week-long tournament ends Saturday.
With Ittihad and Abhar Azat in Group A are Al-Kuwait (Kuwait), and Al-Nidal (Syria). Ahli and Juan Donj are in Group B with Al-Qadisia (Kuwait) and Tuseih Karatchi (Iran).
The preliminary round play continues today with Ahli battling Qadisia and Ittihad taking on Al-Nadal. Tomorrow, Ahli battle Tuseih Karatchi and Ittihad face Al-Kuwait.
After the group matches in the first three days the tournament takes a breather on Wednesday. The quarterfinals get going on Thursday in which the third of Group A plays the fourth of Group B, and third of group B meets second of Group A. The fourth team in each group will contest the 7th and 8th places. On May 9, the semifinals takes place where winner of the first game in the quarterfinals play against Group A’s top team, and winner of game 2 play against Group B’s top team. Semifinal losers will dispute the 3rd and 4th places with the winners going on to fight for the championship crown.
Ittihad players are Adil Al-Najjar, Abdullah Al-Harbi, Bandar Al-Zahrani, Mohammed Al-Zahrani, Saleh Al-Zahrani, Yasir Al-Zahrani, Khalid Al-Malki, Adil Al-Malki, Mitib Al-Malki, Mohammed Shouhan, Ibrahim Al-Zahrani, Hatam Olayan, Mohammed Al-Jubairi, Croatian Vitomir Padovan, and Yugoslavian Ivovic Blagoje.
The Ahli team include Khalid Al-Harbi, Basim Al-Hari, Abdulrhman Al-Malki, Waleed Al-Ghamdi, Hussain Al-Jezani, Mohammed Sharahili, Mohammed Abdoh, Ayman Al-Oryani, Yusri Al-Layli, Ahmed Faraj, Mohammed Al-Zahrani, in addition to three athletes borrowed from Al-Qadisiya club Ahmed Al-Shamamri, Naser Al-Deghaither and Salim Shaheen, and two pros from Spain and Russia.
