Muscat – Omani referees Khamis Al Wahaibi and Omar Al Shehhi have been selected by the International Handball Federation to officiate at the 11th IHF Women’s Youth (U18) World Championship, to be held in Bucharest, Romania, from July 29 to August 9.

Oman Handball Federation (OHF) said the appointments reflect the growing confidence the IHF has placed in Omani referees following their strong performances at previous continental and international tournaments.

The championship will bring together 32 national teams, divided into eight groups, making it one of the world’s leading youth handball competitions and an important platform for identifying and developing emerging talent.

According to the federation, the selection of Al Wahaibi and Al Shehhi continues a series of international appointments of Omani referees and highlights the progress made in developing the country’s refereeing standards.

The OHF said the appointments also reflect its efforts to prepare referees in line with international standards through continuous development and training programmes.

The federation added that participation of the Omani refereeing pair will further strengthen the sultanate’s presence in international handball and demonstrate the ability of Omani officials to perform at the sport’s highest level.