Sunday 08 / September / 2024
Paris: The intense pressure of being a debutant at the world’s greatest stage, Olympic Games, may have played a role in his modest outing on Monday as Oman’s Said Al Khatri competed on the first day of the men’s trap preliminary qualification round in shooting event at the Châteauroux Shooting Centre at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Al Khatri, among 30 competitors, concluded the first day in 26th place with a total score of 70 points across three rounds. He started with a score of 23 in the opening round, improved significantly with a perfect 25 in the second round, but struggled in the final round, scoring 22.
Sweden’s Rickard Levin Andersson topped the standings with 74 points, narrowly edging out Australia’s James Willett, who also scored 74 but was placed second based on countback. Croatia’s Giovanni Cernogoraz secured third place with 73 points, also determined by countback among several shooters with the same score.
Al Khatri’s score of 70 tied with seven other shooters, with placements decided by countback and missed targets. The second round of the preliminary qualifications will be held on Tuesday before the best six will advance to the medal round.
Al Adawi hopes to improve his personal best timing
For Oman’s only swimmer at the Games, Issa Al Adawi, the aim is clear – improve the personal best as this is his second Olympic appearance.
He will compete in the 100m freestyle event at the Paris La Défense Arena on Tuesday. The 22-year-old is in the second heat of the preliminary rounds. There are a total of ten heats in the event, with the top-16 advancing to the semifinals, which will take place on the same evening.
Al Adawi hopes to improve on his performance from Tokyo 2020, where he finished sixth in the preliminary rounds with a time of 51.81 seconds. He expressed confidence to better his personal best.
“This Olympic participation follows three years of significant developments in my technical and preparatory programme. The training was intensive, focusing on specific technical aspects of each 25m segment of the race,” he said.
His coach Amer Bin Rokia said that “Al Adawi is in better physical and technical shape compared to the Tokyo Olympics.”
Rokia added: “He has shown significant improvement since Tokyo 2020, participating in the World Aquatics Championships in Doha and dedicating himself to rigorous training. The preparations will help him to achieve a new personal record.”
Athletes undergoing intensive training
The Oman’s athletics team, comprising Ali Anwar Al Balushi and Mazoon Al Alawi, will compete in men’s and women’s 100m events.
The pair are currently undergoing intensive training under coach Fahad al Mashaykhi. Mazoon will be up first to compete as her preliminary round is scheduled on Friday. Al Balushi will be in action on Saturday with the preliminary round heat slated for August 3.
‘Immense pride to see Oman athletes at the Games’
Meanwhile Ahmed Mohammed Al Araimi, Oman’s Ambassador to France, expressed immense pride in Oman’s participation at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“The Summer Olympics is a prestigious international event featuring over 10,500 athletes from around the world competing in 47 sports for 329 medals,” he said.
Al Araimi emphasised that the Olympics provide Omani athletes with a unique opportunity to compete against elite international competitors, enhancing their technical skills and experience. He commended the French government for its meticulous organisation of this year’s Games, particularly highlighting the exceptional opening ceremony held at the Seine River.
He extended best wishes to the four Omani athletes competing in Paris, noting that their participation reflects Oman’s commitment to global sports and aligns with Oman Vision 2040. The ambassador also underscored the strong historical ties between Oman and France and expressed optimism for future collaborations in sports, leveraging France’s advancements in the field.
“The Omani Embassy in Paris will continue to support our delegation, ensuring their participation in the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games is both smooth and successful,” Al Araimi said.
