Omani refereeing duo chosen for IHF Women’s Trophy

MUSCAT: Omani handball refereeing will strengthen its presence on the international stage after an Omani officiating pair was selected to take part in the third edition of the International Handball Federation (IHF) Women’s Trophy, scheduled to be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from October 13 to 17.
The IHF Rules and Referees Committee appointed Omani continental referees Sultan bin Saif al Siyabi and Salim bin Saif al Siyabi to officiate at the tournament, highlighting the growing confidence in Omani refereeing talent at both the continental and international levels.
The selection represents another important addition to Oman’s growing record of international refereeing assignments and reflects the progress made in developing national handball officials capable of competing at the highest levels of the sport.
For Sultan and Salim al Siyabi, the tournament will provide valuable international experience and an opportunity to further develop their officiating skills while working alongside referees and technical officials from different handball nations.
Their appointment also underlines the continued efforts to strengthen Oman’s refereeing system through technical education, international exposure and professional development programmes. Such opportunities play an important role in preparing national referees for major continental and international competitions and enhancing Oman’s presence within the global handball community.
The IHF’s selection of the Omani pair comes as part of a wider international officiating group appointed for the tournament. Saudi Arabia will be represented by referees Israa bint Sadiq al Ghafri and Jinan bint Hassan bin Ibrahim, who will join the Omani officials in managing the matches.
The tournament’s technical delegation will include Saleh bin Ashour of the United Arab Emirates and On Ah Kim of South Korea, who have been appointed as technical delegates for the competition.
The participation of the Omani referees in Tashkent adds another chapter to the country’s international handball refereeing record and reflects the steady development of Omani officials through continued participation in regional, continental and international competitions.
Beyond the tournament itself, the appointment is seen as an important opportunity for the Omani refereeing pair to gain further experience in an international environment and contribute to the successful administration of the competition.
With Omani officials continuing to receive international assignments, the country’s handball community is expanding its presence beyond domestic competitions, while the development of referees remains an important component of the sport’s broader technical progress.