Muscat: Oman’s Fatek Beit Jaaboub made the Sultanate proud when he won the gold in the high jump event at the Pan Arab Games on Tuesday night.
The Pan Arab Games were officially inaugurated at Algiers' Stade du 5 Juillet on Wednesday but events like athletics, football and para athletics have already started. Approximately 3,800 athletes are competing in the Games.
It was a productive day for Oman as they claimed two medals with young Qusay Al Rawahi clinching a silver in the 100m para athletics event.
Oman are participating in five events – football, athletics, sailing, weightlifting and para athletics.
Meanwhile, Oman’s top sprinters Barakat Al Harthy and Ali Al Balushi were in action in the preliminary round of 100m. Both qualified for the final with Barakat finishing second in Group 1 with a time of 10.46s and Ali also coming second in Group 2, with a time of 10.67s.
The Pan Arab Games returned for the first time in 12 years as Algeria welcomed 22 nations and territories. Besides the capital, events are also taking place in Oran, Constantine, Annaba, and Tipaza. It is the first time that five cities are hosting the Games.
Algiers hosted once before the Pan Arab Games in 2004.
The opening ceremony of the Games coincided with Independence Day in Algeria after the nation was liberated from French rule on the date in 1962. The Games will conclude on July 15. The last edition of the Games was in Doha in 2011. It is the 13th edition following the inaugural event in Alexandria in 1953.