Fencing has always been a male-dominated sport. The selection of Amal al Mahrooqi, a student specializing in Physical Education and Sport Sciences, as the first Omani woman referee is definitely a great accomplishment that gives hope to other women hoping to break into the sports scene.
Asked how she developed a passion for fencing, Amal shared that her enthusiasm for the sport and refereeing became obvious after experiencing a sequence of activities in different domains and sectors, and after participating in numerous workshops. Amal sensed something special about fencing so she decided to pursue the sport passionately.
Amal started her journey into the world of fencing in September 2019 when she joined a training course for refereeing in fencing organized by the Omani Committee for Fencing.
After religiously joining the training sessions, she realized that it is a novel sport that holds a lot of promise for Oman and when it dawned on her that she has the potential to be also a referee, it became an even better prospect.
The decision was not a hard one to make as she is already studying physical education and sports science. From her early introduction into the sport, she invested her time wisely increasing her knowledge about the sport and venturing into territories that allowed her knowledge and techniques to expand.
As Oman has willingly and aggressively welcomed the sport into the country, Amal was one of the early students who were given access into the finals of the game having witnessed three fencing championships organized by the Sultanate of Oman.
“It was a well-organized championship that reflects how the Committee was capable to lead such great fencing matches,” Amal said.
"I was so glad that my colleagues were also well-experienced and highly qualified to act as a referee for the event. That knowledge and foresight contributed to the event's smooth-flowing progression," she said.
Pursuing being a referee was prodded by Amal's inner drive to contribute to different sports in Oman. She worked tirelessly to earn her referee badge. Being a referee enabled Amal to master different sport types rather than being restricted to one kind of sport.
“I can be a referee to more than three sports, so I do not have to restrict myself to a certain game,” Amal explained.
The road to becoming a referee was not an easy journey. Since 2019 when she decided to pursue earning the badge, she has had to go through different rigorous training classes that happened on a daily basis. The hard training became even harder as she has to balance it out with her academic programs.
"When the trainers saw that I was progressing quickly in my training courses, there were days that I was not required to attend. That allowed me to work on my academic stuff," Amal shared.
When Amal finally qualified as a professional referee, it was a big celebration for women in sports as it open more doors for women.
Amal said that such achievement was not possible without community support. The first person who Amal wants to thank is Abdulraheem Al-Darooshi who was instrumental in pushing her to be more involved in the referee committee. She also acknowledges the significant contribution and support she got from her family and most especially the Omani Committee for Fencing.
“I am a risk-taker who likes to experience new adventures, and this had helped me significantly to eliminate any concerns and fears that might crop up when I decided to be part of this scene,” she said.
Being a referee for fencing has impacted Amal’s life considerably, as she learned how to be a more productive person.
Asked what special characteristic a referee must have, Amal said “The fencing referee must be decisive, confident, and extremely attentive, and I said 'extremely' since fencing moves are very fast that requires full concentration from the referees.”
Since her announcement on Twitter, Amal has been getting recognition and accolades from the community who also show their support by words of encouragement.
“When I tweeted that I was the first Oman woman who qualified as a referee, I did not expect that it will become viral in a short time. I had mixed emotions about it but mostly happy and proud. I wish everybody feel that great feeling once they accomplish their ambitions”, Amal said.
Amal said that her dreams don't stop in just becoming a referee. She also hopes to gain international approval as a referee in fencing and all these while she's working hard to complete her bachelor's degree.
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