Equestrian Begins Individual Competitions with Hopes for Strong Results
Al-Shamsi and Al-Balushi Qualify for Athletics Finals at the Asian Youth Games
Oman’s national athlete Al-Yazan Al-Shamsi qualified for the final of the 800-meter race after finishing first in the second heat with a new personal record of 1:56.20 minutes, while Raed Al-Balushi advanced to the final of the 200-meter race with a new personal best time of 21.94 seconds. Meanwhile, Oman’s equestrian and golf teams continue their competitions with hopes of achieving good results in the individual events, as part of the 3rd Asian Youth Games hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain from October 22 to 31. The Games feature over 5,000 athletes representing 45 Asian National Olympic Committees, competing in 24 sports, 31 categories, and 253 events held across multiple venues including Isa Sports City, Khalifa Sports City, Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre, Endurance Village, and Sama Bay.
Al-Shamsi topped his heat in the 800-meter race with a time of 1:56.20 minutes, followed by Saudi Arabia’s Khalaf Al-Balushi in second place with 1:57.89 minutes, and Sri Lanka’s Nathin Waladara in third place with 1:58.07 minutes. The race was strong and competitive, producing faster times than the first heat, and Al-Shamsi looks forward with confidence to reaching the podium in the finals, proudly representing Oman. National coach Ahmed bin Khamis Al-Siabi expressed his happiness with Al-Shamsi’s qualification, noting that this achievement is the result of hard work and dedication during the preparation period. He added that the finals represent a new challenge and that the true goal is to win a medal that rewards the effort invested and reflects the development of Omani athletes in middle- and long-distance events. Al-Siabi also expressed optimism about Hamad Al-Riyami in the 2000-meter steeplechase, highlighting his potential to achieve a strong result, and praised the continuous support from the Oman Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, and the Oman Athletics Association.
Al-Yazan Al-Shamsi expressed his joy after qualifying for the final, emphasizing that determination and focus were key to securing the result, and noted that this achievement motivates him to give his best in the final race. He added that he is both mentally and physically ready and will exert all his effort to earn a medal for Oman, God willing.
Golf
Oman’s national golf team continues its participation in the Asian Youth Games. The team completed the second round of the boys’ team event, finishing twelfth out of sixteen teams with a total of 319 strokes (+31). Despite the strong competition from Asia’s top teams, the Omani players demonstrated noticeable improvement, reducing the deficit from +20 in the first round to +11 in the second. This reflects steady progress and determination to achieve a better result in the final round. Ahmed bin Faisal Al-Jahdhami, Secretary-General of the Oman Golf Association, praised the players for their focus and competitive spirit, noting that their performance reflects the association’s vision to nurture national talent, provide international exposure, and highlight Oman’s name in the Asian sports arena. He expressed hope that the final round will allow the team to improve their ranking and achieve a result that reflects the development of Omani golf players.
Taekwondo
Oman’s taekwondo team continues its participation, with Qaboos Al-Balushi and Al-Mutassim Al-Hajri scheduled to compete on Sunday. Meanwhile, Shahnaz Al-Maawali lost her match against Vietnam’s Huong Thi Thu Huyen, and Fidaa bint Fouad Al-Barwani was defeated by Tajikistan’s Timurrova Buno in straight rounds. The hopes now rest on the male athletes to achieve positive results after the female athletes concluded their participation in the preliminary rounds.
Equestrian
The national equestrian team aims to achieve strong results in the individual competitions, reflecting the growth of equestrian sports in Oman. The team includes Sayyid Abdulaziz bin Fahad Al-Busaidi, Taha bin Ziyad Al-Balushi, and Sarah bint Suhail Al-Kathiri, all competing in the individual 120cm category. The riders enter the competitions with ambitious hopes to make up for the team event results and to secure a stronger showing in the individual rounds.
Swimming
The national swimming team arrived in Bahrain to prepare for competitions starting Monday, October 27, and running through October 30. Oman will be represented by Mohammed bin Khamis Al-Wahaibi, who will compete in the 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke, and 50m butterfly, under the supervision of coach Abdelhafid Rahmani Goudari.
E-sports
Oman’s national e-sports team was drawn into Group A alongside Tajikistan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Indonesia, Jordan, and Kazakhstan. A total of 20 national teams from across Asia are participating. Oman will compete in the “Rocket League” event scheduled from October 29 to 30, represented by Sultan bin Kamran Al-Balushi, Mishari bin Ammar Al-Ajmi, and Abdullah bin Badr Al-Amri, with Hamed bin Yaqoub Al-Jahwari as administrator and Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Ateqi as coach.
