Oman to take part in two sports at Asian Indoor Games in Turkmenistan

Sports Wednesday 13/September/2017 21:17 PM
By: Times News Service
Oman to take part in two sports at Asian Indoor Games in Turkmenistan

Muscat: Focussing on quality rather than the quantity, the Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) has decided to field the Sultanate athletes in just two sports in the forthcoming Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Turkmenistan.
According to a statement issued by the OOC on Wedesday, the Sultanate will be represented at the Games by just five athletes - two in the indoor athletics and three in the indoor tennis competitions.
The fifth edition of the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games will take place in Turkmenistan capital city of Ashghabad from September 17 to 27. A total of 5,000 athletes from 69 nations will compete in 21 sports during the Games.
The five-member Omani team includes star athlete Barakat Al Harthi and fellow sprinter Ahmed Mubarak. Another Omani star Fatma Al Nabhani will spearhead Oman’s tennis challenge along with Sarah Al Balushi and the latter’s young sibling Maryam Al Balushi.
Barakat Al Harthi, a 100m bronze medallist in the 2010 Asian Games and a 60m gold medal winner in 2016 Asian Beach Games, will compete in 60m competition.
Ahmed Al Saadi, who won 400m bronze medals in the 2014 Asian Indoor Championships and 2017 Asian Championships, will be seen in action in his favourite 400m event.
In tennis, Fatma Al Nabhani will compete in both singles and doubles competitions. Maryam Al Balushi will be in action in the singles while Sarah Al Balushi will team up with Fatma in the doubles.
The Omani delegation will be headed OOC Treasurer Khalid bin Ali Al Aadi and it will be accompanied by Kazim bin Khan Al Balushi, as chef de mission and Eshaq bin Ahmed Al Balushi as administrator.
Al Zubair for OCA General Assembly
Meanwhile, the OOC also informed that chairman of the Sultanate’s Olympic body Sheikh Khalid Al Zubair and Secretary-General Taha Al Kishry will attend the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) General Assembly, which is scheduled to take place on September 20.
On the sidelines of the Games, various supporting committees of Olympic Council of Asia will hold their meetings on September 18.
At these meetings, Oman will be represented by Taha Al Kishry, who is also a member of OCA’s Sports Committee, OOC board member Dr. Mansoor bin Sultan Al Toqi and OCA’s Women’s Sport Committee member Saada bint Salim Al Ismaili.