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Team Anvin won the championship of the first-ever ‘Ooredoo Qatar Workers Cup 2013’ volleyball tournament after beating Sagara W L L in three straight sets on Friday evening.
The all-Indian team worked hard to control each game using their wit and consistent attacks. Their strategy proved to be effective in the entire match: 25-12, 25-20 and 25-13.
“My team altogether played a wonderful game. All the young players like Ilyas and Reggie played a very excellent game, they were really good in attacking,” said veteran setter Ashique. “We are very proud and this is really a very exciting tournament.”
Sagara W L L had a hard time dealing with Anvin’s tough blocking, giving the latter a chance to set up good offence led by its top spiker Ilyas. He was awarded the “most valuable player” of the tournament and received QR1,500 cash.
The champion team received QR18,000 while the second place winners got QR9,000. Qatar UAE Xchange which won the third place received QR6,000. QSports chairman Ghanim al-Mohannadi and Ahmed Izeldin from Ooredoo led the awarding ceremony.
Banking on the skills and capability of his players, coach Abbas Ahmed was confident of winning the finals. “Yes of course we will win,” he told Gulf Times in an interview a few minutes before the start of the match.
He said their regular training every night from 7pm to 10pm paid off and bested 11 other teams who joined the volleyball competition.
Anvin also handily defeated Nepali-dominated Qatar UAE Xchange, 3-0, in the semi-finals on the same day. Sagara beat Milaha in the second match to reach the finals.
Ahmed, a member of Team Al Rayyan for five years, disclosed that they all won their matches during the elimination round.
Organised by QSports Leagues, the Ooredoo Qatar Workers Cup has gathered close to 1,000 players of cricket, basketball, football and volleyball coming from various expatriate communities in Qatar. The three other sport events, which had 16 teams each, were held in different sports clubs and stadiums recently.
Benjamin Panton, director of public relations and marketing at QSports Leagues, said they are planning to hold the event annually.
“We hope to increase the number of teams next year,” he added. Expecting more companies to join the tournaments, they want to double (from 16 to 32) the number of teams for each of the four sport event. It is also studying the possibility of adding indoor sports like table tennis.
Panton said QSports Leagues has partnered with Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee and Qatar Stars League in organising the Workers Cup 2013.