Wednesday 27 / November / 2024
MUSCAT: A day of jubilation and immense pride unfolded as the Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) honoured its national heroes who recently achieved outstanding success at the Hangzhou Asian Games and Asian Para Games.
Omani athletes and para athletes delivered an exceptional performance at the continental Games, securing a silver and a bronze medal at the Asian Games (September 23-October 8) and four medals, including two gold medals, at the Asian Paralympic Games (October 22-28).
The sailing duo of Musab Al Hadi and Waleed Al Kindi etched their names in history by clinching Oman's first-ever Asian Games silver medal in the 49er men's skiff event.
Adding to the glory, Husain Al Farsi won the country's second medal, a bronze, in the 800m race.
This marked a historic occasion as Oman returned from the Asian Games with two medals for the first time since its maiden medal at the Seoul 1986 Asiad.
In Seoul, Mohammed Amur Al Malki claimed bronze in the 400m race, and four years later, Al Malki secured Oman's only gold medal in the same event at the Beijing 1990 Games. The relay quartet won a bronze at the 1998 Jakarta Games, and Barakat Al Harthy earned a bronze in the 100m event at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games.
The significance of this latest medal haul is underscored by Oman ending a 13-year medal drought, now surpassed with two medals.
At the Hangzhou Asian Para Games, Mohammed Al Mashaykhi and Mohammed Al Qasmi secured two gold and two silver medals, respectively. Al Mashaykhi won gold in men's shot put (F32), with Al Qasmi earning the silver and the pair did an encore as Al Mashaykhi claimed the title in the men's club throw (F32), with Al Qasmi taking the silver.
During the ceremony on Tuesday, Khalid bin Mohammed Al Zubair, the Chairman of the Oman Olympic Committee, expressed his pride, and said, "We are immensely proud of our players' achievements at the 19th Asian Games and the fourth 2022 Asian Para Games. Oman has collected a total of six medals in the Asian Games and Asian Para Games."
He added, "We have gathered today to honour our heroes, and these awards are a token of appreciation for their exceptional efforts. We hope that this recognition will inspire other athletes and national teams to strive for success in various regional, continental, and international events."
Al Zubair underscored the unwavering support that sports and youth have received from His Majesty the Sultan, and he expressed the committee's commitment to further enhancing their collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth, various sports organisations, and private sector institutions.
The following Asian Games athletes and support staff were honoured during the ceremony: the national sailing team, including Musab Al Hadi and Waleed Al Kindi (sailors), and Hashim Al Rashidi and Saif Al Barwani (support staff); the national athletics team, represented by Husain Al Farsi (athlete), Fahd bin Aqeel Turki, Krasimir Petrov, and Mohammad Al Balushi (support staff).
For the Asian Para Games, Mohammed Al Mashaykhi and Mohammed Al Qasmi were recognized, along with the support team of Sania Mustafa, Auf Al Maamari, Asaad Al Qarni, and Hani Al Shamakhi.
The ceremony was attended by Taha Al Kishry, OOC secretary-general, members of the OOC board of directors, Salem Al Amri, Oman Athletics Association president, and Saif Al Barwani, Oman Sail's director general of administrative and financial affairs.
