Mubarak leads Qatar’s challenge at home event

Doha: Veteran international Mubarak Ali Al Muraikhi is leading the host nation’s challenge at the Qatar Open which kicked off here yesterday at the Qatar Bowling Centre.
Mubarak is one of the 73 bowlers who are vying for the winner’s purse of €30,000 in the six-day tournament which will end on December 10.
Besides Mubarak, others who will be seen in action are Khaled Al Emady, Jamal Al Sahoti, Mansour Al Awamy, Abdullah Haroon, Khaled Al Dossari, Zakareya Al Zoqari, Yousef Al Jaber, Salem Al Marzouqi, Nasser Al Sahoti, Fahad Al Mulla, Hamad Al Mosallam, Hassan Abdulrahman and Omar Faleh.
Qatar Bowling Federation President Abdul Salam Abbas said the event will serve as good exposure for the young players.
“Qatari has a mix of youth and experience. We can’t ask for too much from the younger players, but the big-match experience will definitely help them. ” said Abdul.
Bowlers from 26 countries  such as  USA, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Canada, Czech Republic, Costa Rica, England, Germany, Hong Kong, Latvia, Netherlands, Philippines, Indonesia, Venezuela, Belarus, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Pakistan, India  Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain  and Qatar are taking part in the €120,000 prize money event.
Finland’s Mika Koivuniemi of Finland is in Doha to defend his title he won last year. 
For Koivuniemi, runner-up in 2011, the biggest challenge will come from compatriot Tony Ranta, American Tommy Jones and Swede Martin Larsen.
Jones finished third last year while Larsen came fourth.
The Peninsula