Last year’s runners-up Qatar Sports Club were just too hot to handle in their second group match against Al Raja of Morocco in the Arab Club Table Tennis Championship in Agadir in Morocco on Thursday.

Al Raja, despite having the home advantage, could not find a flaw in their opponents’ armour and went down to the yellow outfitted team. Qatar SC won 3-0, their second win with the same scoreline.

Qatar have two more matches to go in Group 2 against Al Mafraq (Jordan), and Al Sulaymaniyah (Iraq).

Al Sulaymaniyah are expected to run the former champions close given their gradual rise at the regional level. The Iraq club had finished third four years ago. In the subsequent editions, while they have failed to repeat the performance of 2015, they have always been tricky opponents. Qatar SC will need to be wary of them.

Al Mafraq have not finished in the top three ever but they will be keen to prove a point against the title contenders.

The trio of Mohammed Abdul Wahab, Ahmed Khaleel Al Mohannadi and Chinese professional Jan Xian have not dropped a match in the two encounters so far. They will be keen to maintain a clean slate as they prepare for tougher battles ahead.