Oman athletes gear up for West Asian tourney in Bahrain

MUSCAT: Oman’s athletes are gearing up to take part in the West Asian Athletics Championship which will take place in Bahrain during April 16 to 19 as the national squad targets strong representation at the regional level.
The athletes are currently engaged in a domestic training camps under the supervision of the coaching staff of the Oman Athletics Association (OAA). Training sessions are being conducted at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, where a group of runners is working closely with national coaches Hamood al Dalhami, Fahad al Mashaykhey, Emad Siraj, Said al Harthy and Ahmed al Siyabi. Another group of athletes is holding training sessions at Sultan Qaboos University under the guidance of head coach Mohammed al Hooti, as part of a structured preparation programme designed to ensure optimal readiness ahead of the championship.
As part of the selection process, a local Athletics Championship will be staged on March 13 and 14 during Ramadhan. The event will feature domestic competitors across various track and field disciplines, with standout performers earning the opportunity to represent Oman in upcoming regional and international competitions.
The athletes currently in the camps are preparing across a wide range of events, including sprint races such as the 100m, 200m and 400m, as well as middle-and long-distance races and relay events. Field disciplines are also strongly represented, with training underway in long jump, high jump, shot put, javelin throw and discus throw.
The build-up to the West Asian Championship followed the successful conclusion of the Association Championship for Clubs, organised by OAA last month. The event attracted 350 athletes representing 36 clubs from across the Sultanate of Oman, underlining the steady growth of athletics at the grassroots level. Salalah, Al Bashayer, Al Amerat and Al Suwaiq clubs secured top positions in the highly competitive championship, showcasing the depth of talent emerging from clubs nationwide.
The West Asian Championship represents the nearest international assignment for Oman’s athletics team. Additional events remain under review by the OAA Board of Directors, with confirmations expected in the coming weeks. Following the West Asian event in Bahrain championship, the athletes will shift their focus to the Arabian Athletics Championship, which will be held in Tunisia from April 26 to 30. Tunisia was awarded hosting rights after Saudi Arabia withdrew from staging the event. Looking further ahead, the 2026 Asian Games in Japan which is scheduled from September 19 to October 4 will act as the major highlights on the continental calendar. Meanwhile, Oman’s leading sprinter Ali bin Anwar al Balushi is set to compete at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, which will take place in Poland from March 20 to 22, marking an important milestone in his international campaign this season.