Muscat – Oman Sail’s 49er team of Musab al Hadi and Walid al Kindi created history for the sultanate on Tuesday by winning Oman’s first-ever silver medal at the Asian Games.

The pair sailed excellently throughout the week in Ningbo, China and kept their composure in the final intense races to take silver. This achievement means the team has secured automatic qualification to the Asian Qualification Regatta in Chon Buri, Thailand in December where they will look to confirm their place in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Speaking about the historic feat, Hashim bin Hamad al Rashidi, Head Coach of Oman Sail, said, “This achievement came as a result of the intense preparations and continuous training that preceded the tournament. The team was able to maintain focus and perform well throughout the competition. It was a tough test for the sailors against the most prominent professionals from across the Asian continent.”

He added that the next step will be the quest to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

After the race, Hadi said, “We are very happy to represent Oman in this major continental event, and we are delighted to win a silver medal for our nation. We dedicate this achievement to our dear homeland and to all those who supported us on this journey, the technical staff and our colleagues at Oman Sail.”

An Omani delegation of 75, including 44 male and female athletes, is participating in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, in seven sports – athletics, weightlifting, water sports, shooting, sailing, beach volleyball and hockey.

The Asian Games is considered the largest sporting event on the Asian continent and the second largest global event after the Summer Olympics. More than 12,000 male and female athletes are currently competing, representing 45 Asian countries in 40 sports.