Mousa, Mubarak star in Qatar’s win over Malaysia

Singapore: Qatar's Davis Cup team made a winning start to their Asia/Oceania Group III campaign, beating Malaysia 2-1 in their Pool B round robin tie in Singapore on Wednesday.

Mousa Shanan Zayed won the opening singles rubber as he beat Christian Chin 7-5, 6-2 at the indoor courts of OCBC Arena. Mousa’s younger brother Mubarak Shanan Zayid later overcame Shamirul Shahril Mohamed 7-5, 5-7, 6-1.

The doubles match, however, saw Rayane Alami and Mousa Zayed go down to Christian Didier Chin and Syed Mohamed Agil 6-0, 2-6, 6-2.

Qatar will now take on Syria (who beat Iran 3-0) in the second round robin tie.

Eight countries are currently involved in Singapore in the Asia/Oceania Group III 2019 tournament. Vietnam, Kuwait and Sri Lanka, apart from hosts Singapore are in Pool A, while Iran, Qatar, Syria and Malaysia face off in Pool B.

After three days of round robin competitions, the winners of both pools will play off against one another, with second playing second, third playing third and fourth playing fourth to establish the final standings.

Three nations would be promoted to Group II according to Davis Cup regulations depending on the size of the group. Qatar, who made their Davis Cup debut in 1992, have played in the Asia/Oceania Group II three times.

Earlier on Tuesday, the ambassador of the State of Qatar to Singapore Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al Hamar held a dinner banquet in honour of the Qatar tennis delegation.

The head of Qatar's delegation to the event, Ahmed Al Obaidli, thanked Al Hamar for his support to the Qatari national team.