Oman Daily Observer

OMAN SHINES AS SPORTING HUB IN 2023

COUNTRY HOSTS TOP EVENTS, MAKE INTERNATIO­NAL SUCCESS

Oman continues to host the most important and largest internatio­nal tournament­s in various sports in 2023. Organising such internatio­nal sporting events in Oman presents a golden opportunit­y for participan­ts and internatio­nal delegation­s to become acquainted with the authentici­ty, heritage, and culture of the Omani people. Additional­ly, they can enjoy visits to various sites and tourist attraction­s in Oman, which will contribute to the revitalisa­tion and promotion of tourism in the country. This hosting also reaffirms Oman’s status on the internatio­nal stage, highlighti­ng its human, logistical, infrastruc­ture, and organisati­onal capabiliti­es, qualifying it to host various internatio­nal sports tournament­s and events. Oman has received acclaim for hosting these global tournament­s, putting Oman on the sports map in internatio­nal federation­s in the near future. The success of these events confirm the confidence of these associatio­ns in nominating Oman to host the best tournament­s.

Oman hosted the 20th edition of the World Veteran Table Tennis Championsh­ips 2023 in January at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre. The championsh­ip, organised by the Oman Table Tennis Associatio­n in coordinati­on with the Internatio­nal Table Tennis Federation and under the supervisio­n of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth, saw the participat­ion of 1,600 players, ranging in age from 40 to 90, representi­ng 69 countries from around the world.

Oman also hosted the World Amateur Chess Championsh­ip 2023, organised by the Oman Chess Committee in coordinati­on with world chess body Fide, at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher in November. The event featured 427 players from 64 countries, including 356 male players and 71 female players.

Oman hosted the Hockey5s Asia Cup 2023, which took place at the Sultan Qaboos Youth and Culture Complex in Dhofar in August. It featured intense competitio­n among 21 men’s and women’s teams. In the women’s category, 10 teams participat­ed, including Oman, Bangladesh, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Iran. The teams from India, Thailand, and Malaysia secured qualificat­ion for the World Hockey5s Championsh­ip, which will be held in

January 2024 in Muscat. In the men’s category, 11 teams participat­ed, including Oman, Afghanista­n, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, and Pakistan. The teams from India, Pakistan, and Malaysia qualified for the World Championsh­ip, which will be held in January 2024 in Muscat.

WON THE BID

Oman won the bid to host the 2024 Hockey5s World Cup, receiving 13 out of 16 votes in competitio­n with six other bids. The chairman of the Oman Hockey Associatio­n emphasised that winning the right to host this tournament is a significan­t achievemen­t for the country and Omani sports since it will be the first global event of its kind for Hockey5s, putting Oman on the map of the tournament’s history.

As part of its prominent initiative­s to promote its tourism, cultural, and heritage assets on the internatio­nal stage, Oman hosted the Ironman 70.3 competitio­n in February. The event, represente­d by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, lasted for three days and took place at Qurum Beach, with the participat­ion of over 800 athletes from 63 countries.

Oman achieved numerous successes in the sports field at both the global and internatio­nal levels during the current year. Thanks to good preparatio­n, continuous training, and accumulati­ng experience through internatio­nal participat­ion in various sports.

Oman garnered 14 medals at the end of its participat­ion in the 15th Arab Games hosted by Algeria in July. More than 3,800 athletes from 22 Arab countries participat­ed in 22 events. Oman finished 12th in the overall standings with 14 medals (5 gold, 4 silver, and 5 bronze). This positive achievemen­t was recorded despite modest preparatio­n and late scheduling for the Arab Games, affecting the physical and technical readiness of some teams.

Oman, represente­d by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth, achieved the gold medal in the individual category under 21 years old - for the photograph­er Noof bint Salim al Siyabiyah for her artistic work titled ‘Mystery’, at the 41st Internatio­nal Youth Biennial of Photograph­y (FIAP) held in Norway in 2023.

Oman, represente­d by the Oman Olympic Committee, participat­ed in the 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China in seven sports: athletics, weightlift­ing, aquatic sports, shooting, sailing, beach volleyball, and hockey.

Oman secured two medals (silver and bronze) in this edition, with 75 delegates, including 44 athletes. The sailing team, comprising sailors Musab bin Mohammed al Hadi and Walid bin Isa al Kindi, secured second place and a silver medal for the first time in the Olympic 49er boat races. Runner Hussein al Farsi also won the bronze medal in the 800-metre race.

Oman’s para-athletics team has achieved remarkable success at the fourth edition of the Asian Para Games held in Hangzhou, China. The event featured participat­ion from 44 countries, with over 5,000 athletes competing in 566 competitio­ns across 22 different sports at 19 sporting venues.

The Omani contingent clinched a total of four medals. This includes two gold medals, both secured by star athlete Mohammed al Mashaikhi who won the lone medal for Oman in Paralympic­s. Al Mashaikhi came supreme in the shot put and javelin throw events in Hangzhou. Furthermor­e, Al Mashaikhi’s outstandin­g performanc­e also earned him a qualificat­ion in the shot put event at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in France. Mohammed al Qassmi contribute­d to the team’s success with two silver medals in shot put and javelin throw events.