Muscat, April 24
The first Oman Boxers Championship began at the German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech) on Friday, marking a historic step for boxing as the first official event of its kind in the Sultanate of Oman.
Held under the supervision of the Oman Committee for Martial Arts and Self-Defence Sports and organised by Oman Boxing Club, the two-day championship opened under the auspices of Faisal al Aufi, Director-General of Schools and Educational Services at Majd Group, represented by GUtech.
The opening day featured the preliminary bouts after boxers were classified according to approved age and weight categories, while the finals and awarding ceremony will take place on Saturday.
The championship attracted strong interest during its preparation phase, with more than 135 boxers applying to take part. After completing the required technical and medical procedures, including health reports and medical examinations, around 60 boxers were approved for the final list. The event also includes 27 coaches from different clubs across Oman, an international refereeing panel and a fully equipped medical team.
Beyond competition, the championship aims to build a real foundation for boxing in Oman by developing local talent and preparing players for future external participation under the umbrella of the competent committee. Organisers hope the event will become a regular platform for discovering and refining boxers capable of representing Oman in regional and international events.
THREE BOUTS
The morning session began with three bouts, as Yousef bin Nasser al Dhehli won the opening S35kg contest, Mohammed bin Raid al Wahibi took victory in the S50kg category and Abdulrahman al Jahdhami won the third bout in the S55kg category, giving the championship an energetic start.
Ahmed bin Said al Naabi, one of the organisers from advertix, said the launch of the first edition came in response to a clear need within the local sports community, especially with growing interest in boxing among young athletes, clubs and coaches.
He explained that the idea began through a survey targeting those interested in the sport, which received a strong response, with more than 135 applications and participation interest from more than 23 coaches representing over 15 clubs.
Al Naabi added that the organising committee held a workshop for coaches before the championship, focusing on organisational procedures, sports ethics, fair play and the values that should guide the practice of boxing.
“The aim is to present a model that reflects Omani values based on respect, discipline and sportsmanship”, he said.
He pointed out that the championship is being held in a knockout format, with boxers distributed by age group and weight category to ensure fairness and safety. He stressed that these standards are essential in boxing and cannot be compromised.
Al Naabi also underlined that the medical aspect was decisive in approving participants. Any boxer who did not complete the required procedures was excluded, reducing the final number of applicants from more than 135 to around 60 approved boxers.
“The safety of the players is a top priority, especially in a sport that requires high physical and health readiness”, he said.
The championship includes medical checks before and after each bout, with immediate exclusion of any boxer showing signs of injury, fatigue or health concern. On the refereeing side, the organisers cooperated with specialised bodies from the UAE to provide an international refereeing team, helping ensure the rules are applied according to approved standards.
IMPORTANT STEP
Coach Amin Mohymen praised the level of organisation, describing the championship as an important step in developing Omani boxing. He commended the role of GUtech in supporting the event, saying such platforms give players a real chance to test and display their abilities.
He added that continuous participation and regular bouts are vital for producing competitive boxers, noting that the opening day showed encouraging technical signs. A good boxer, he said, is not only strong physically, but is able to read the bout, understand the opponent and respond intelligently.
The championship continues on Saturday with the final bouts, followed by three main contests, the crowning ceremony and the honouring of winners.
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