Sports Reporter
Muscat, Oct 21
The Sultanate of Oman will take part in the official opening ceremony of the third Asian Youth Games in Bahrain from October 22 to 31. The Omani flag will be raised by Abdulaziz bin Fahad al Busaidy, a member of the equestrian team, and Fida al Barwani from the taekwondo team.
This edition is one of the continent’s major sporting events, featuring more than 5,000 athletes from 45 Asian Olympic committees, competing across 24 sports, 31 categories and 253 events held at several venues, including Isa Sports City, Khalifa Sports City, the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre, the Endurance Village and Sama Bay.
The official Omani delegation is headed by Dr Abdullah bin Khamis Ambusaidi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Education for Education. The delegation also includes Brigadier (Retd) Said bin Mohammed al Hajri, Deputy Head of the Mission and Abdullah bin Mohammed Bamakhalaf, Secretary-General of the Oman Olympic Committee (OOC).
TRAINING SESSIONS
The Omani national teams began their training sessions immediately upon arrival in Bahrain, in a spirited and enthusiastic atmosphere. The taekwondo, athletics, equestrian and golf teams trained at their designated venues.
Earlier, the Omani delegation attended the welcome ceremony for participating nations at the Bahrain International Conference Centre, where Adam bin Masoud al Barwani from the golf team raised the Sultanate of Oman’s flag.
Dr Abdullah bin Khamis Ambusaidi emphasised that Oman’s participation demonstrates the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MoCSY) and the OOC's commitment to nurturing sports and supporting young talent.
He stated: “We are proud to see six national teams representing the Sultanate of Oman in this prestigious continental event. These teams were selected based on strict technical criteria to ensure honourable representation that reflects the progress of Omani sports and its growing competitiveness.”
Dr Ambusaidi added that this participation provides valuable field experience for young athletes as they compete with Asia’s elite, boosting their confidence and skills. He also extended his gratitude to the Bahraini organising committee for their excellent organisation and warm hospitality.
For his part, Abdullah bin Mohammed Bamakhalaf affirmed that this participation continues the committee’s efforts to support Omani youth sports and strengthen Oman’s presence in Asian and international arenas.
He praised the efforts of the sports associations and the technical and administrative teams that prepared the athletes despite the short preparation period.
“We ensured that selection was based on precise technical standards to guarantee participation by teams capable of competing strongly fulfilling the Olympic Committee’s vision to develop a generation of athletes who can represent the Sultanate of Oman with distinction,” he said.
Bamakhalaf concluded by thanking the Bahraini organising committee for their outstanding organisation and generous hospitality.
GOLF TEAM READY
Ahmed bin Faisal al Jahdhami, Secretary-General of the Oman Golf Association (OGA), confirmed the national golf team’s readiness following an intensive preparation phase, which included a domestic training camp in Muscat and a short external camp in Bahrain.
He noted that the players underwent continuous training to raise their technical and physical levels, expressing appreciation for the strong support received from the OOC and the OGA.
Al Jahdhami concluded that the team aims to compete strongly and deliver a performance worthy of Omani golf in this major Asian event.
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