The Oman Para-Athletics team has demonstrated outstanding performance at the West Asian Para Games held in Sharjah, UAE, by clinching a total of 12 new medals, The team's remarkable achievement includes 3 gold, 6 silver, and 3 bronze medals, bringing Oman's total medal count in the fourth edition of the WAPG to 24.
The sixth day competitions witnessed intense battles and impressive displays of athleticism from para-athletes across the region. Oman's contingent showcased exceptional skill and determination, securing podium finishes in multiple games.
Mohammed al Mashaykhi led the charge with a gold medal in shot put, recording an impressive throw of 9.60 metres. Talib al Balushi added to Oman's gold medal tally with a stellar performance in discus throw F56, achieving a distance of 28.57 metres. Taha al Harassi clinched the third gold in long jump with a leap of 4.88 metres.
Additionally, Omani athletes secured 6 silver medals through Mohammed al Qasimi in shot put, Fouzi bin Salem al Habishi in javelin throw F54 with a distance of 20.10 metres, Saif al Muqibli in the 200m dash with a time of 23.95 seconds, Rayyah al Abriya in discus throw with a throw of 9.53 metres, and in javelin throw with a distance of 8.87 metres, and Iman al Shamsiya in javelin throw with a distance of 12.19 metres.
The three bronze medals were achieved by Sheikha al Hamadiay in javelin throw with a distance of 8.22 metres and in discus throw with a distance of 8.12 metres, and Qusay al Rawahi in long jump with a leap of 5.78 metres.
KEY SUPPORT
Reflecting on Oman's success, Mansour bin Sultan al Touqi, head of the Omani delegation to the West Asian Para Games, expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, highlighting the significance of the 24 medals won in reaffirming Oman's position in the Paralympic arena. Al Touqi, commended the dedication and resilience of the athletes, emphasising the pivotal role played by support from various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, and OQ Company.
Al Touqi also underscored the importance of parental support in nurturing the athletes' talent and fostering a conducive environment for success. He expressed optimism for future competitions and reiterated Oman's commitment to furthering excellence in para-sports.
Oman athlete Talib al Balushi expressed his great joy at winning the gold medal in the discus throw competition, pointing out the importance of the West Asian Para Games where this achievement took place.
He said: "I am extremely pleased with the medal in discus throw. This achievement is the result of serious training and strong determination."
Al Balushi added: "Achieving these accomplishments is thanks to teamwork and good preparation by the coaching and administrative staff before and during the tournament. We urgently need more support and attention to para-sports in Oman, and we hope that the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth will continue to support the Omani Paralympic Committee to enable them to provide more opportunities for athletes with disabilities."
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