MUSCAT, SEPT 7
Oman’s national hockey team will travel to Japan as it enters the final phase of preparations for the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, scheduled to take place from September 18 to October 3.
The Omani side has been following an intensive preparation programme aimed at building the team’s technical and physical readiness ahead of the continental tournament. The current phase includes a training camp in Kakamigahara City from September 5 to 14, where the players will work on fitness, technical execution, team cohesion and tactical plans ahead of the competition.
The team’s preparations in Japan will also feature a series of friendly matches against Japan, providing the coaching staff with an opportunity to assess the squad’s readiness, test its tactical organisation and identify areas requiring improvement before the start of the official matches.
Oman has been drawn in Pool B alongside China, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Thailand. Pool A consists of South Korea, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan and Sri Lanka.
Oman will open its Asian Games campaign against China on September 18 at 9 am, before facing Malaysia on September 22, Uzbekistan on September 24, Thailand on September 26 and Pakistan on September 28. The men’s hockey competition will be staged at Kawasaki Juko Stadium in Gifu.
The tournament schedule places significant demands on the squad, making preparation and recovery key factors as Oman seeks to compete strongly throughout the group stage.
The delegation is headed by Majid bin Said al Hooti, Team Leader, while Khalil al Balushi serves as Team Manager. The coaching and support staff also includes Head Coach Mohammed Hoobais al Shar, Assistant Coach Salah bin Nasser al Saadi, Physiotherapist and Stand-in Manager Ghassan al Hasani, Physical Trainer Salim al Mazrouei, Psychologist Abdullah al Noufali, and Video Technician Wagdi Hassan Bait Mabrook.
The 18-player squad features Aliyas al Noufali, Asama Ramadhan Barazahan, Akram bin Ashoor Bait Shamaiaa, Khalid bin Juma al Shaaibi, Aiman Faraj Khadim Madit, Mohammed bin Sulaiman al Noufali, Al Khoder bin Sulaiman al Noufali, Sanad Sbeit, Faisal bin Ambork, Maitham bin Saif al Wahaibi, Aseel bin Ammar al Maaini, Khalid bin Waleed al Hasni, Fahad bin Hassan al Lawati, Ahmed bin Khalfan Muqadam, Rashad bin Salim al Fazari, Rashid bin Salim al Alawi, Ibrahim bin Nasser al Farsi, and Al Baraa bin Ghabish al Noufali.
Oman’s participation in Aichi-Nagoya represents another important opportunity for the national team to gain international experience, measure its progress against Asia’s leading sides and continue strengthening the development of hockey in the Sultanate. The squad will aim to make full use of its preparation period and carry that momentum into the group-stage campaign.
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