MUSCAT: Oman’s national weightlifting team gearing up for two major international challenges including: Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games which will take place in Japan next September and the 2026 World Weightlifting Championships in Ningbo, China in October. The national leading lifters are currently undergoing an intensive training camp in Muscat ahead of their upcoming participations.
The Asian Games will provide the first major test for Oman’s weightlifters, with the weightlifting competition scheduled to take place from September 22 to 28 at Nippon Gaishi Hall. The team will then turn its attention to the World Championships, which will be held from October 27 to November 8 at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Center, with more than 600 athletes from over 100 countries expected to compete.
Oman will be represented at the Asian Games by Amer al Khanjari in the 85 kg category, Ilyas al Busaidi in the 75 kg category and Murshid al Ajmi in the 95 kg category. The delegation will also include the newly appointed Iranian coach Ali Taherverdi Jabbari and Yousef al Hasani from the Oman Weightlifting and Physical Strength Sports Committee.
INTENSIVE TRAINING
Speaking to Oman Observer, Yousef al Hasani, board member of the Oman Weightlifting and Physical Strength Sports Committee, said that the team already completed a 10-day training camp in Salalah before moving to Muscat for the next phase of its preparations. “The Salalah camp began on August 12 and concluded after 10 days. It was a very useful camp for the team, particularly because the weather conditions helped the athletes manage their training and recovery. We also focused on maintaining their physical condition, nutrition and recovery while reducing the risk of injuries,” Al Hasani said.
The team is now continuing its preparations in Muscat under the supervision of the new coach Ali Taherverdi Jabbari, who joined the national team last July on a one-year contract, with an option for renewal. “The new coach is working according to the team's preparation programme and is closely monitoring the athletes to ensure that they reach the required level of readiness for the Asian Games,” Al Hasani added.
TOUGH ASIAN CHALLENGE
Al Hasani acknowledged that the Asian Games will present a major challenge for the Omani lifters, with some of the world's strongest weightlifting nations competing in the region.
“The competition at the Asian Games will be very tough. Reaching the podium will require significant effort and a long-term preparation programme. Our athletes will give their best, and we hope they can achieve the required results and deliver performances that reflect the progress of Omani weightlifting,” he said.
Amer al Khanjari will be one of the athletes under particular attention after securing silver and bronze medals at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh. However, his preparations were affected by an injury in the recent period. “Amer has been recovering from an injury, but he is now in a better stage of his recovery. We hope he will continue his progress and arrive at the Asian Games in good physical condition,” Al Hasani said.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Asian Games will also serve as an important preparation stage for the team's next major challenge — the 2026 World Weightlifting Championships in Ningbo. “The Asian Games are an important milestone in our preparation for the World Championships in China. Our objective is to use the Asian competition to assess the athletes and continue developing them before the world event. We want our lifters to reach the World Championships in the best possible physical and technical condition,” Al Hasani explained.
LONG-TERM OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION PLAN
Beyond the Asian Games and World Championships, the Oman Weightlifting and Physical Strength Sports Committee developed a longer-term competition plan aimed at improving the athletes' international ranking and creating a pathway towards qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. “Our plan is not limited to the Asian Games and World Championships. We want our athletes to compete in a series of international events as part of a long-term programme,” Al Hasani said.
The programme is expected to include participation in four to five major international competitions, providing the athletes with opportunities to gain international experience, improve their rankings and pursue Olympic qualification.
The planned competitions include the Grand Prix in Doha, Qatar, followed by an international tournament in Uzbekistan, the Asian Championship in South Korea and the 2027 World Championships as part of the qualification pathway. The long-term objective is to give Oman's lifters regular exposure to high-level international competition and accumulate the necessary ranking points for the Olympic qualification process.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
