With 9 Medals… Oman Makes a Strong Mark at the Islamic Solidarity Games

The Sultanate of Oman delivered one of its most prominent performances on the international sporting stage during the sixth edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games, hosted by the Saudi capital Riyadh with the participation of 57 countries. Oman concluded its campaign in 21st place, securing an impressive tally of nine colored medals and a series of honorable results that reflected the rapid development of Omani sport across various disciplines. The national anthem of Oman was proudly played twice during the Games’ competitions.

In fencing the Omani team achieved an exceptional milestone as the women’s team captured the gold medal in the Women’s Foil Team event. The team comprised Israa Al-Siyabi, Janaa Al-Sharji, Salma Al-Dughayshi, and Ghazal Al-Fulaiti. This achievement further confirmed Oman’s rising status in fencing, as it emerged as the most successful Arab nation in terms of medals won in this sport during the Games. The men’s team, consisting of Ahmed Kaskas, Al-Harith Al-Harthi, Saeed Al-Shaibi, and Ali Al-Busaidi, added two bronze medals in the Foil and Épée events, while Israa Al-Siyabiyah also claimed an individual bronze medal, reinforcing Oman’s presence on the podium.

Head coach Hicham Kershoud expressed his pride in the achievements, stating that seeing Omani men and women standing on the podium is a priceless moment. He emphasized that the continuous support provided by the Oman Olympic Committee over the past period played a vital role in enhancing the readiness of the athletes, adding that the future of Omani fencing is steadily progressing toward further accomplishments.

In athletics, Omani athletes continued their strong showing, with sprinter Ali Al-Balushi claiming the gold medal in the men’s 100 meters with a time of 10.30 seconds, after topping his heat in the qualifiers with 10.26 seconds. His teammate Mulhim Al-Balushi also qualified for the final after finishing second in his heat with a time of 10.34 seconds. The men’s 4×100 meters relay team, composed of Mohammed Al-Saadi, Rashid Al-Assami, Mulhim Al-Balushi, and Ali Al-Balushi, secured the silver medal following a cohesive team performance. Additionally, Fatik Bait Jaaboub won the bronze medal in the high jump, while Ali Al-Balushi finished fourth in the 200 meters with a time of 20.85 seconds.

In weightlifting, lifter Amer Al-Khanjari delivered a commendable performance by winning the silver medal in the clean and jerk and the bronze medal in the total for the 88 kg category, adding further medals to Oman’s tally and reflecting the effectiveness of the technical preparation that preceded the Games.

In eSports, the national team competed in four intense matches against Jordan, Tajikistan, and Morocco, managing to secure two important victories before exiting the competition. In karate, Idris Al-Batrani produced a solid performance with a convincing win over Yemen’s Waleed Al-Najjar, before losing to Saudi Arabia’s Saud Al-Basheer. In taekwondo, both Nebras Al-Touqi and Omaima Al-Hana’iyah showcased promising levels against experienced opponents, while the swimming competitions saw the participation of Mishal Al-Kulaibi and Mohammed Al-Wuhaibi, who recorded respectable times in the heats.

Oman participated in seven sports during the Games: weightlifting, swimming, eSports, karate, taekwondo, athletics, and fencing. The participation followed intensive preparations that included local and overseas training camps aimed at enhancing the technical and physical readiness of all national teams.

The official Omani delegation was headed by His Excellency Dr. Abdullah bin Khamis Ambusaidi, Vice President of the Oman Olympic Committee, assisted by Mousa bin Khamis Al-Balushi, Deputy Head of Delegation, and Abdullah bin Mohammed Bamukhalif, Secretary General of the Oman Olympic Committee, alongside a comprehensive administrative, technical, medical, and media team that included Salem Al-Busaidi, Saeed Al-Harasi, Saeed Al-Jarjashi, Ahmed Al-Salmani, Marwan Al-Yaqubi, Mohammed Loubani, and Ameer Al-Salti.

Oman’s participation in Riyadh reaffirmed that sport in the Sultanate is moving in the right direction, and that long-term preparations are clearly beginning to bear fruit. With every medal and honorable appearance, confidence in the capabilities of Omani athletes continues to grow, renewing aspirations for an even stronger presence in upcoming competitions.

This successful campaign adds another milestone to the record of Omani sport. The outcome was not merely numbers on a medal table, but a vivid reflection of a nation’s ambition, supportive leadership, and a generation of youth capable of achievement. Oman raised its flag high in Riyadh — and the achievement stands as a testament to a brighter future for Omani sport.