MUSCAT: The Oman karate national team achieved a remarkable feat by winning six medals in the fifth edition of the West Asia Championship for Juniors, Youth, Under-21, and Seniors. The event took place at the Sharjah Sports Club arena in the United Arab Emirates on November 29-30. Around 500 athletes from 10 countries competed in a highly competitive sporting atmosphere.
The Omani team secured four silver medals and two bronze medals. The silver medalists were Sharifa al Shibibi, Idris al Batrani, Laith al Barwani and Al Yaqdhan al Abdali. Mukhtar al Amri and Mohammed al Shibibi bagged bronze medals for Oman. The Oman team was coached by Ali bin Said al Shabibi.
On the sidelines of the championship, the Asian Referees Course was held from November 26 to 28. It covered kata and kumite rules, along with qualification exams for the Judge (B) level referee badge. Several referees from the Oman Karate Committee participated and successfully passed the examinations, including Tariq bin Juma al Raisi, Khalifa bin Hamad al Rasbi, Munthir Bilal Hassan, Adel bin Salim al Hinai, Mohammed bin Khalifa al Hinai, Mohammed bin Abdullah al Mahrouqi, Ali bin Mushtaq al Lawati, Al Munthir bin Mohammed al Alawi, Zulfa al Kindi, Ahmed al Balidi, Samira Najafi and Ali Reza.
Additionally, referees Suleiman bin Khalifa al Hinai, Yusuf bin Muslim al Siyabi and Hilal bin Mohammed al Abdali renewed their kata and kumite referee badges. Coach Basil bin Abdunnabi al Balushi also successfully completed the Asian Kumite Coaches Course.
The championship's opening ceremony on November 29 was attended by the Chairman of the Oman Karate Committee, Salim bin Hamad al Mahrouqi. His presence provided a significant morale boost to the athletes, coaches and referees, inspiring them to achieve greater success and elevate karate in Oman.
This achievement reflects the Oman Karate Committee's dedication to developing athletic and arbitration skills. It underscores their determination to achieve further success on regional and international platforms.
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