Muscat: Oman's youth beach volleyball team is preparing to take part in the qualification tournament for the FIVB U18 Beach Volleyball World Championships, which will be held in The Hague, Netherlands, from July 8 to 12.
The Sultanate of Oman will be represented by the promising duo of Haitham al Buraiki and Mazin al Salmani under the guidance of Iranian coach Amir Hossein Zadeh. The pair earned their place in the global event following a strong showing at the Asian U18 Beach Volleyball Championships, held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from May 6 to 10.
Their qualification represents an important step for Omani beach volleyball at youth level and reflects the steady progress being made by the national programme. Al Buraiki and Al Salmani reached the Round of 16 in the Asian championship after producing competitive performances against several strong continental sides.
Oman began their campaign with a straight-set win over Singapore, a result that gave the team a positive start and strengthened their chances of advancing. The team then faced Thailand in a tough match, losing in two sets despite showing resilience and discipline. The Omani pair later met Kazakhstan in the Round of 16, where they exited the tournament after another straight-set defeat. However, their overall performance was enough to secure a place in the qualification stage of the world championship.
The qualification tournament in The Hague will be held on July 8, with teams competing for the remaining places in the 32-team main draw. According to the event regulations, up to 24 teams may take part in the qualification phase, with four teams advancing to the main draw.
32 TEAMS
The main draw will feature 32 teams divided into eight pools of four. The top three teams from each pool will progress to the knockout stage, beginning with the Round of 24, followed by the Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and medal matches. The tournament will conclude on July 12 with the bronze and gold medal matches.
The event is one of the highest international platforms for the U18 age category and will give the Omani pair valuable exposure against some of the best young beach volleyball players in the world. It will also provide an important opportunity to gain experience, test their level and continue their development in a highly competitive environment.
The national coaching staff is finalising the team's preparation programme before travelling to the Netherlands, with focus on technical, physical and mental readiness. The staff is also working to build on lessons from the Asian championship and strengthen the team's performance ahead of the world challenge.
The participation underlines the Oman Volleyball Association's efforts to develop youth talents and enhance the Sultanate of Oman's presence in international beach volleyball competitions.
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