Oman’s Esports Team Wins Bronze After Defeating Bahrain

Oman Delegation Concludes Asian Youth Games Campaign with Two Bronze Medals

The Oman national esports team secured third place and claimed the bronze medal in the Rocket League competition after a 3–0 victory over the host nation, Bahrain. The thrilling match attracted a large crowd both in the stands and via live broadcast from the Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre.

This achievement adds to the bronze medal won earlier by athlete Al-Yazan Al-Shamsi in the 800m race, bringing Oman’s total tally to two bronze medals at the 3rd Asian Youth Games, held in the Kingdom of Bahrain from October 22 to 31, 2025. The event gathered over 5,000 athletes representing 45 Asian National Olympic Committees, competing across 24 sports, 31 disciplines, and 253 events, hosted at prominent venues including the Isa Sports City, Khalifa Sports City, Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre, the Endurance Village, and Sama Bay area.

Brigadier (Ret.) Saeed Al-Hajri, Deputy Head of the Omani delegation, congratulated the players and the committee for the remarkable achievement, stating: “We view this accomplishment with immense pride. Winning a bronze medal at a major continental event such as the Asian Youth Games is not just a sporting victory — it’s the culmination of hard work and a testament to the capability of Omani youth to compete and excel internationally, even in modern disciplines like esports.”

He added that the achievement places Oman firmly on Asia’s esports map and serves as a strong motivation for players, coaches, and supporting institutions — including the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Oman Olympic Committee, and the Esports Committee — to continue their efforts toward growth and excellence.

Al-Hajri also expressed optimism about the future of esports in Oman: “The world now recognizes esports as a legitimate sport, and its popularity among youth is rapidly growing. Oman is taking confident steps to embrace this development. This medal represents a cornerstone for a bright future in esports, supported by ongoing efforts to develop infrastructure, nurture young talent, and create an enabling environment for growth.”

Hamad Al-Jahouri, Team Manager of the national esports squad, shared his pride in the team’s first international success: “Praise be to God, this is a historic moment for Oman. In our very first participation, we achieved third place and won bronze in Rocket League at the Asian Youth Games. Led by ambitious young players, the team proved that determination and teamwork can overcome challenges and lead to success. The players performed admirably against elite Asian teams and have proudly etched Oman’s name among the continent’s best.”

He emphasized that this milestone marks only the beginning: “Our team is steadily progressing toward global recognition. Following our participation in the Asian Youth Games, we have qualified for the Islamic Solidarity Games and advanced to the World Cup Finals, featuring the world’s top 16 teams. This reflects the maturity and readiness of our players, aligning with Oman Vision 2040, which seeks to build a globally competitive society driven by talented youth.”

Sultan Al-Balushi, player of the national esports team, said: “This bronze medal is the result of great teamwork, dedication, and the continuous support of the Oman Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, and the Esports Committee. The competition was fierce, especially against top teams like Saudi Arabia — the reigning world champions — as well as Jordan and Bahrain. However, we entered with confidence and a strong spirit, which helped us secure third place.”

He added: “This achievement gives us strong motivation to keep improving and striving for even better results in future tournaments. We hope we’ve represented Oman honorably at the Asian Youth Games.”

Mashari Al-Ajmi, another team member, expressed his happiness: “We are thrilled to have won bronze in Rocket League after a well-deserved victory over Bahrain. The journey was not easy — the competition was intense from the early rounds — but our unity, determination, and commitment to excellence made this achievement possible. I thank my teammates and the technical and administrative staff for their continuous support, as well as the Ministry and the Oman Olympic Committee for their backing. This medal is only the beginning of greater successes to come, God willing.”

Abdullah Al-Amri, also a member of the team, shared: “Thanks to teamwork and persistence, we earned this medal after tough matches against experienced teams, especially Saudi Arabia. We proved that Oman can compete strongly. Our match against Bahrain was intense till the final moments, but we played with full determination to achieve a result worthy of Oman’s name — and we succeeded.”

Oman participated in the 3rd Asian Youth Games with six national teams: Athletics, Golf, Esports, Aquatics, Taekwondo, and Equestrian.