Al Balushi enters 100m semifinals in Bahrain

Sport Reporter
Muscat, Oct 23
Oman made an impressive start to the third Asian Youth Games, hosted by Bahrain from October 22 to 31, with more than 5,000 athletes from 45 Asian National Olympic Committees competing across 24 sports and 253 events held at major venues including Isa Sports City, Khalifa Sports City, the Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Center, the Endurance Village, and the Sama Bay area.
Sprinter Raed bin Mohammed al Balushi achieved a new milestone for Omani sport by qualifying for the 100m semifinals after topping Heat 1 in the preliminary round with a time of 10.98 seconds. Iran’s Darvish finished second in 11.02, Hong Kong’s Weng was third in 11.08 and Pakistan’s Murtaza came fourth in 11.20.
Brigadier (Retd) Said al Hajri, deputy head of the delegation, and Abdullah Bamkhalaf, Secretary-General of the Oman Olympic Committee, congratulated Al Balushi on his qualification, praising his determination and expressing confidence in his ability to continue excelling and reach the podium.
EQUESTRIAN, GOLF UNDERWAY
The equestrian and golf teams opened their individual and team campaigns amid strong competition. The equestrian squad features Sayyid Abdulaziz al Busaidy, Taha al Balushi and Sarah al Kathiri.
The golf team comprises Adam al Barwani, Mahir Nikhil Sampat and Pransh Gopal Jagwani, who completed their first day of play alongside elite golfers from across Asia.
On Friday, the equestrian, athletics, and golf events continue. Al Yazan al Shamsi will run the 800m, while Raed al Balushi contests the 200m heats. Hamad al Riyami is set for the 2,000m steeplechase on Saturday.
Taekwondo also gets underway, with Shahnaz al Maawali and Ziyad al Balushi entering the preliminary rounds. Qaboos al Balushi, Al Mutasim al Hajri and Fidaa al Barwani will complete on Friday weigh-ins ahead of their official bouts on Saturday.
SPECTACULAR OPENING
The official opening ceremony took place on Wednesday evening at the Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre in Sakhir, attended by Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad al Khalifa, Bahrain King's Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, and Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad al Khalifa, President of the General Sports Authority.
Oman was represented by Dr Abdullah bin Khamis Ambusaidi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Education for Education, head of delegation, Brigadier (Retd) Said bin Mohammed al Hajri, deputy head, and Abdullah Bamkhalaf, OOC Secretary-General.
The national flag was carried by taekwondo athletes Fidaa al Barwani and Qaboos al Balushi in a proud moment for the Sultanate of Oman. The ceremony featured dazzling performances blending modernity with Bahraini heritage, narrating the kingdom’s history with a message of peace and unity among Asian peoples.
TEAM FULLY READY
Talal al Balushi, Chairman of the Oman Taekwondo Committee, affirmed the national team’s readiness to compete with high confidence despite the strength of the field, noting that the athletes underwent a comprehensive preparation programme. He praised the players’ commitment and discipline for the Games.
Ziyad al Balushi of the equestrian team’s technical staff explained that intensive preparations spanned eight weeks and included varied training to boost the fitness of both rider and horse, improve coordination and flexibility, and refine jumping accuracy. He added that the team continued simulation sessions and technical reviews in Bahrain to ensure full readiness before the start of the competition.