SPORT REPORTER
MUSCAT, NOV 8
Oman’s national swimming duo, Mishal al Kulaibi and Mohammed al Wahaibi, concluded their participation in the swimming events of the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games, currently taking place in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The swimmers competed in the 50m Butterfly and 50m Freestyle heats took place at the Olympic Sports Complex on Saturday, among elite swimmers from across the Islamic world.
In the 50m Butterfly event, al Kulaibi claimed first place in his heat with a time of 26.75 seconds, surpassing Bahrain’s Adnan Firas Abu Salem (26.89s). His compatriot, Mohammed al Wahaibi, came third in the same heat with 26.93s. However, the overall times from other heats were faster, preventing the Omani swimmers from qualifying for the next stage despite their close performance margins.
Later, in the 50m Freestyle at 11:05 a.m., Al Wahaibi delivered a strong performance, finishing second in his heat with a time of 25.80 seconds, just behind Ghana’s Sean Ferno Debokroma (25.32s). Mauritania’s Kamel Daoua came third (26.02s). Despite Al Wahaibi’s impressive swim, the aggregate results from other heats placed him outside the qualifying ranks.
The Omani swimmers will return to action on Monday for the 100m Freestyle event. The coaching staff praised their determination and noted the significant improvement shown while competing against top athletes from Asia and Africa. The delegation emphasised that this participation forms part of a long-term development plan aimed at elevating the performance level of Oman’s swimmers.
GRAND OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 6TH ISLAMIC SOLIDARITY GAMES IN RIYADH
Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz al Saud, Governor of Riyadh Region, officially inaugurated the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games on Friday night. The spectacular opening ceremony, held at the Al Janadriyah Camel Field, featured dazzling artistic and cultural performances celebrating Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage under the theme “Welcome to Your Homeland.” The event saw the participation of 57 Islamic nations, symbolising unity and brotherhood across the Muslim world.
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