OOC honours fencing team after Asian bronze medal

MUSCAT, MARCH 12

The Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) honoured the Omani stars of the women’s national fencing team, who shone internationally in certain tournaments, especially after claiming the bronze medal at the Asian Junior Fencing Championship hosted by Kuwait from February 20 to 28.

The fencing team achieved an unprecedented accomplishment in Omani women’s sports by winning a bronze medal among the participants of 14 countries.

The honouring ceremony was held at the headquarters of the Oman Olympic Committee on Wednesday in Muscat, to encourage and motivate Omani talent and highlight their achievement in the international stage.

OOC Chairman Khalid bin Mohammed al Zubair awarded the key players in presence of Khalid bin Said al Shuaibi, Chairman of Oman Fencing Committee, Sayyidah Sana bint Hamad al Busaidiyah, Chairperson of Oman Women’s Sports and Gender Equality Committee, and Taha bin Sulaiman al Kishry, OOC Secretary-General.

The event started with a visual presentation highlighting the players’ preparations for the tournament, how they addressed the challenges and technical staff’s effort led by Captain Hisham Ali Karshod. It also highlighted the intensive training technique that led the players to the achievement, in addition to the impact of this achievement on the future of women’s fencing in Oman.

Khalid al Zubair honoured the players: Jannah al Sharji, Israa al Siyabi and Salma al Dughaishi, along with coach Hisham Ali Karshod, who worked to set up the team since 2019 until reaching the podium on 2024.

Khalid al Shuaibi said: “This achievement would not have been possible without the continuous efforts of the players, technical staff and administrative team. The committee is moving forward with its plans to increase interest in fencing and expand its practice base in Oman.”

Jannah al Sharji said, “The championship was highly competitive, but the team spirit and strong support from the technical and administrative staff played a crucial role in overcoming challenges and reaching the podium.”

“This achievement gives us greater motivation to continue working and achieving better results in the future,” she added.

Salma al Dughaishi stated: “The competition was challenging and demanded a high level of focus, but the team’s determination and perseverance led to this commendable achievement. This success highlights the advancement of fencing in Oman and paves the way for more accomplishments in the future.”

Israa al Siyabi expressed happiness saying, “Winning this medal was the fulfilment of a long-held dream after months of intense preparation. This moment would always be memorable for me. The team is now determined to deliver even stronger performances in future competitions.”