Muscat: The Oman national esports team added a new achievement to Oman sports by securing third place and winning the bronze medal in the Rocket League event, after a convincing 3–0 victory over hosts Bahrain. The match drew strong attendance at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre, as part of the third Asian Youth Games hosted by Bahrain from October 22 to 31.
This medal raised Oman’s tally in the Games to two bronzes, following the first medal won by athlete Al Yazn al Shamsi in the 800m race.
More than 5,000 athletes from 45 Asian nations competed in 24 sports, 31 categories and 253 events held across several venues, including Isa Sports City, Khalifa Sports City, Bahrain International Exhibition Centre, Endurance Village and Sama Bay.
The team delivered a composed and focused performance, showing great cohesion and successfully imposing their playing style from the start through smart movement and structured gameplay that unsettled Bahrain’s defence. Players capitalised on key opportunities and scored with high efficiency, securing the first-ever Asian Games medal for Oman in Rocket League. The achievement reflects the development of the sport and the support provided by Oman’s governing bodies for esports.
DESERVED MEDAL
Brigadier (Retd) Saeed al Hajri, Deputy Head of Oman’s delegation, congratulated the team and said the achievement is a source of pride and a culmination of major efforts. He stressed that winning a bronze at a continental event demonstrates the capability of Omani youth to excel in various modern sports, including esports and places Oman on the Asian esports map.
He expressed optimism for the future of esports in Oman, especially with the sport gaining global recognition and popularity among youth. He added that this success serves as a foundation for a bright future, noting that stakeholders are working to build infrastructure, nurture young talent and provide a supportive environment.
Team manager Hamad al Jahwri said the achievement is historic in the team’s first Asian Games appearance. He praised the players for their determination and strong performance against the best Asian teams, adding that this success marks the start of a promising journey towards global competitiveness. He highlighted that the team has also qualified for the Islamic Solidarity Games and reached the Rocket League World Cup Finals featuring the world’s top 16 teams, reflecting the progress and maturity of the squad in line with Oman Vision 2040.
Player Sultan al Balushi expressed his delight, noting that strong competition against leading teams such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Bahrain required high focus and team spirit. He said the bronze provides a strong motivation for further development and improved results in future events.
Player Mashari bin Ammar al Ajmi said the journey to the podium was not easy, but team unity and determination paved the way. He thanked teammates and the technical and administrative staff, adding that the medal is only the beginning of further achievements to come.
Player Abdullah bin Bader al Amri also expressed his pride, saying that the team entered the Bahrain match with determination to deliver a result worthy of Oman. He praised the teamwork that secured the victory and promised continued development to raise Oman’s flag in upcoming events.
Oman took part in the third Asian Youth Games in Bahrain with six teams: athletics, golf, esports, aquatics, taekwondo and equestrian.
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