Muscat – Omani athletes and sportsperson are making their presence felt on the global stage with their achievements not only highlighting their personal journey but the multi-faceted development of the sultanate. Muscat Daily highlights the achievements of a few who left a mark in 2022.

Omani athletes shine at Islamic Games in Turkey

Omani athletes did the nation proud at the Islamic Solidarity Games held in Konya, Turkey, in August.

Fatek bin Abdul Ghafour Jaboob struck gold in high jump, while the national relay team claimed a bronze medal in the men’s 4X100m relay, clocking 39.21 seconds. Oman’s top sprinter Barakat al Harthi won bronze in the men’s 100m.

The medals took Oman’s tally at the games to three.

Over 5,000 athletes representing 55 countries participated in the games. Oman took part in five disciplines – athletics, cycling, swimming, shooting and weightlifting.

Despite exiting in the qualifying round, Omani shooters gained valuable experience at the games by competing against experienced and top ranking shooters.

Six medals in jiu-jitsu championship

Four martial artists won six medals – two gold, two silver and two bronze – in a jiu-jitsu championship held in Hamburg, Germany, in August.

The AJP Tour Hamburg International Pro – GI and NO-GI saw participation of 600 athletes from 36 countries. Abdullah bin Khamis al Farsi won gold in the NO-GI under 62kg weight category and silver in the GI brown belt category.

Mohammed al Farsi claimed gold in the NO-GI under 62kg weight category and silver in the GI blue belt category.

Fahad al Araimi won bronze in the GI under 69kg blue belt category, while Khalid al Araimi returned with a bronze claimed in the GI under 85kg blue belt category.

Currently, there are eight academies and more than 2,000 athletes in the sultanate practising the sport.

Seeb Club creates history

Seeb Club scripted history by thrashing Kuala Lumpur City 3-0 to win the 2022 AFC Cup on October 22 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This was the first time an Omani club won a continental tournament.

Seeb Club reached the final after a series of wins in the group stage to the playoffs. It reached the final, representing the West Asian region, after beating Bahrain’s Riffa 4-0.
Besides the club winning the title, Eid al Farsi was named the AFC Cup 2022 Most Valuable Player.

The 35-year-old skipper played a crucial role in Seeb Club’s campaign, leading his side to its maiden AFC Cup title.

Flexing muscles, clinching medals

Oman’s national bodybuilding team claimed six medals at the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness World Bodybuilding Championships 2022, held in Barcelona, Spain, from November 2 to 7.

Speaking to Muscat Daily, Mohamed al Siyabi, national coach, said, “More than hundred countries participated in this tournament. Oman was successful in winning two gold medals, three bronze and one sliver.”

He added that the technical staff of Oman Bodybuilding Committee did a great job of selecting talented bodybuilders from local tournaments for the national team.

Al Muhannad al Maawali claimed a gold in the Men’s Physique (up to 182cm), while Munir al Luwaihi won the top spot in the Muscular Physique category.

Zaim Talib al Fazari added a silver medal for the sultanate in Classic Bodybuilding category. In the Men’s Bodybuilding category, Omar Mohammed al Maskari won a bronze in the 90kg category. Mohammed Ali al Ajmi and Abdullah Saeed al Jabri, too, claimed bronze medals in the 95kg and 70kg categories respectively.

Fencers claim 15 medals in Jordan

For the first time, Oman’s fencing team returned with a rich haul of medals – 15 in all – from the West Asian Fencing Championships hosted by the Jordanian Fencing Federation in Al Hussein Youth City in Amman in August.

The team bagged four medals on the opening day of the championship. Of the 15 medals it claimed, eight were gold, four silver and three bronze for performances in U-13 and U-15 age categories.

The championship saw stiff competition with the participation of 150 male and female fencers from 11 countries – Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Iraq, besides hosts Jordan and Oman.