Oman’s taekwondo, equestrian teams end campaign without medals

MUSCAT: The Oman taekwondo and equestrian teams concluded their participation in the third Asian Youth Games in Bahrain without securing any medals, despite the strong performances displayed by the players against top Asian teams. Oman continue to compete in swimming and esports events.
The Games feature more than 5,000 athletes representing 45 Asian National Olympic Committees, competing across 24 sports and 253 events held in major venues such as Isa Sports City, Khalifa Sports City and the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre.
Oman’s athletics team achieved the delegation’s standout result through runner Al Yazan al Shamsi, who won a bronze medal in the 800 metres race.
The taekwondo and equestrian teams were unable to reach the podium despite the great efforts of their athletes and technical staff. The teams noted that limited experience, short preparation periods and lack of sufficient training camps created a noticeable performance gap compared to other Asian nations.
Several coaches and committee heads emphasised the need for a comprehensive evaluation of the participation and the establishment of future development plans focusing on early preparation and greater support from both public and private sectors.
Talal bin Mohammed al Balushi, Chairman of the Oman Taekwondo Committee, described the Games as a valuable opportunity for exposure and experience, stressing the importance of holding regular domestic and international training camps, diversifying training environments and increasing opportunities to engage with various technical schools to enhance both the technical and mental capabilities of athletes.

AL FARSI MISSES FINALS
Swimmer Mohammed al Farsi failed to qualify for the finals of the 50 metres freestyle event, despite finishing second in his heat with a time of 24.83 seconds, as advancement depended on the top eight times across all seven heats. Al Farsi will continue his participation in the 100m freestyle, as well as the 50m and 100m backstroke events in the coming days, hoping to achieve positive results.
The national esports team arrived in Manama to compete in the Rocket League tournament, scheduled from October 29 to 30. The team includes players Sultan bin Kamran al Balushi, Mishari bin Ammar al Ajmi and Abdullah bin Badr al Amri, under the supervision of team manager Hamad bin Yaqub al Jahwari and coach Abdullah bin Nasser al Atiqi.
The Oman Olympic Committee’s (OOC) administrative delegation continues to work diligently to ensure the best possible conditions for all participating teams through daily follow-ups and coordination with the organising committee, aiming to create an ideal environment that helps athletes perform at their best. Kadhim al Balushi, deputy head of Oman delegation, stated that the OOC places great importance on providing all the necessary factors for success, reflecting the sports leadership’s commitment to supporting youth and representing Oman honourably in international arenas.

Adel bin Khalifa al Wahaibi, head coach of the taekwondo team, expressed his relative satisfaction with the team’s technical performance despite not achieving the desired results, noting that the upcoming period will include a comprehensive technical evaluation and the development of advanced preparation plans for future competitions.
For his part, Ziyad bin Ayoob al Balushi, coach of the equestrian team, explained that the lack of long-term international training camps and intensive preparation programmes affected the riders’ performances, despite their talent and ambition. Rider Taha al Balushi added that while the team aimed for stronger results, several factors, such as limited technical support and few training opportunities, affected their readiness. He emphasised that the team needs a long-term training plan and greater support to keep pace with the rapid development of equestrian sports in the region.
At the conclusion of Oman’s participation, the technical staff of all teams agreed that the next phase requires a clear strategic vision based on continuous analysis and post-competition evaluations to enhance performance and achieve results that reflect the true potential of Omani youth on continental and international stages.