Al Shamsi, Al Balushi reach athletics finals

SPORT REPORTER
Oman’s national athletics team achieved another milestone at the 3rd Asian Youth Games hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain until October 31, as athletes Al Yazn al Shamsi and Raed al Balushi advanced impressively to the finals of the 800m and 200m races, each setting new personal bests that reflect the growing progress of Omani runners on the continental stage.
In the 800m race, Al Shamsi clinched first place in Heat 2 with a time of 1:56.20, setting a personal record ahead of Saudi runner Khalaf al Balushi (1:57.89) and Sri Lanka’s Nathin Waladara (1:58.07), in a highly competitive race featuring excellent times.
In the 200m sprint, Raed al Balushi also secured his place in the final after recording a new personal best of 21.94 seconds, confirming the strong readiness of Oman’s athletes and their ambition to compete for medals.
COACH AND ATHLETE REACTIONS
National coach Ahmed bin Khamis al Siyabi expressed his delight with Al Shamsi’s qualification, saying the success was the result of tremendous effort during the preparation phase, and that the goal now is the final, with the ambition to reach the podium and raise Oman’s flag high.
For his part, Al Yazn al Shamsi said he was proud to have qualified and to set a new personal record, adding that he will give his all in the final to win a medal for Oman despite the tough competition, and that he feels mentally and physically ready for the challenge.

EQUESTRIAN TEAM KICKS OF INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION Off
The national equestrian team will begin its individual events on Sunday, hoping to achieve results that reflect the steady progress of equestrian sports in Oman.
Representing the Sultanate of Oman are Sayyid Abdulaziz bin Fahd al Busaidy, Taha bin Ziyad al Balushi, and Sarah bint Suhail al Kathiriyah, all competing in the 120cm category. The riders aim to make up for their earlier team results and deliver a performance worthy of Oman’s reputation.
GOLF TEAM CONTINUOUS WITH STEADY PROGRESS
Oman’s national golf team finished the second round of the boys’ team competition in 12th place out of 16 nations, with a total of 319 strokes (31 over par).
Despite the tough field of elite Asian teams, Omani players showed noticeable improvement over their first-round performance, narrowing the gap and recording better scores.
Ahmed bin Faisal al Jahdhami, Secretary-General of the Oman Golf Association, said the participation aligns with the federation’s vision to nurture national talents and give them valuable international experience, expressing hope for a strong finish in the final round.
TAEKWONDO AND SWIMMING PARTICIPATION
The taekwondo team continues its campaign, with athletes Qaboos al Balushi and Al Mutasim al Hajri set to compete on Sunday morning.
Meanwhile, Shahnaz al Maawali and Fida al Barwani exited the competition after losing to their counterparts from Vietnam and Tajikistan, respectively, leaving hopes with the male athletes to achieve positive results.
The swimming team has also arrived in Bahrain ahead of its events beginning Monday, represented by Mohammed bin Khamis al Wahaibi, who will compete in the 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke, and 50m butterfly, under coach Abdulhafidh Rahmani Qoudri.
E-SPORTS TEAM DRAWN IN STRNG GROUP
The national e-sports team was placed in Group A alongside Tajikistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Indonesia, Jordan and Kazakhstan, in a tournament featuring 20 Asian nations. Oman is represented in Rocket League by Sultan bin Kamran al Balushi, Mushari bin Ammar al Ajmi, and Abdullah bin Badr al Amri, led by administrators and coaches Hamad bin Yaqoob al Jahwari and Abdullah bin Nasser al Atiqi.
RENEWED OMANI HOPES
Oman’s national teams continue to represent the Sultanate of Oman with pride among more than 5,000 athletes from 45 Asian National Olympic Committees, competing across 24 sports and 253 events hosted at major venues including Isa Sports City, Khalifa Sports City, Bahrain International Exhibition Centre, Endurance Village, and Sama Bay Zone.