Oman Taekwondo Committee honours players for Arab Cup achievement

 
Muscat: The Oman Taekwondo Committee (OTC) honoured 16 male and female players in recognition of their achievements and medal haul at the 2026 Arab Taekwondo Cup, held in the United Arab Emirates, highlighting the sport’s growing progress at the regional level.
The ceremony also included the recognition of national coach Harib al Abri on the occasion of earning the 8th Dan certificate, the highest level of black belt in coaching. The event was held at the Oman Olympic Committee headquarters in the presence of Dr Talal al Balushi, OTC Chairman, board members, parents and coaches.
Dr Talal al Balushi affirmed that organising periodic gatherings for players every few months is an initiative the committee is keen to sustain, aiming to honour regional and international achievers and motivate them to continue excelling. He explained that international participation enhances physical readiness, psychological stability and confidence on the mat, in addition to improving players’ international rankings, which positively reflects on Oman’s overall standing in taekwondo.
Regarding the 2026 plan, he noted that it builds on previous strategies with the addition of new international tournaments and training camps to strengthen global presence, especially as Oman boasts a number of highly ranked international athletes. He added that several players have been selected under a support and qualification grant in preparation for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games.
He also stressed that the committee acts as a link between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and taekwondo clubs, with clubs serving as the primary source for talent identification and development. International participation is arranged through invitations from the International Taekwondo Federation, followed by internal qualifiers to select the best athletes.
30 CLUBS
On the local level, Al Balushi confirmed the sport’s steady expansion thanks to club efforts and family support, noting that more than 30 clubs across the governorates include male and female athletes. The current focus is on the 6–18 age group to build a strong foundation for future achievements, alongside attention to older categories according to competition requirements.
For his part, Harib al Abri expressed his appreciation for the recognition, reviewing his journey that began in 1988 and his commitment to self-development through overseas training, particularly in South Korea, culminating in passing the 8th Dan examinations last November at the International Federation’s headquarters in Korea. He affirmed that taekwondo in Oman has witnessed clear development in coaching staff and technical standards, and that increased support would open broader horizons toward global achievements.
MEDAL WINNERS SHARE JOY
Following her recognition, athlete Dana al Wahiba said she was proud of winning the silver medal, noting that the championship was highly competitive and contributed significantly to her development. She added that she has participated in 14 international tournaments, winning 10 medals of various colours.
Meanwhile, athlete Dawood al Yousufi expressed his happiness at winning the Arab Cup gold medal, emphasising that the achievement was the result of disciplined training and strong family support. He described the tournament as outstanding, given the presence of strong competitors and high-level matches, noting that he managed to defeat several ranked athletes, including world and Asian champions. Al Yousufi added that the medal serves as strong motivation to continue improving, revealing his upcoming participation in the World Championship to be held in Uzbekistan this April. 

Photos by Khalfan al Ruzaiqi