MUSCAT: Oman strengthened its presence on the Asian karate scene through its participation in the 24th Asian Karate Cadet, Junior and U21 Championships, held in Amman, Jordan, from September 8 to 11.
The continental event brought together 351 athletes from 30 Asian countries, providing a highly competitive platform for some of the continent’s most promising young karate athletes.
Oman’s participation featured both athletic and officiating representation, with the national team gaining valuable competitive experience while Omani referees made a strong contribution to the championship and achieved notable success in the continental classification examinations.
The Omani national team consisted of four athletes: Sharifa bint Ali al Shabibi, Mohammed bin Ali al Shabibi, Mukhtar bin Salim al Omari and Al Yaqdhan bin Hilal al Abdali. The team was supervised by national team coach and international coach Ali bin Said al Shabibi, while Al Shaihan bin Ahmed al Zakwani, a member of the Oman Karate Committee, headed the delegation.
The championship represented an important stage in the development of the Omani athletes, giving them the opportunity to compete directly against athletes from across Asia with considerable experience at continental and international events.
The exposure provided the Omani athletes with valuable lessons in competition management, physical preparation and tactical execution, while also helping them gain greater confidence in dealing with the pressure associated with major championships.
The Omani athletes demonstrated commitment, discipline and fighting spirit throughout their participation, while adhering to their technical instructions and maintaining a strong sporting attitude both on and off the tatami.
Beyond the immediate results, the experience gained from competing against some of Asia’s leading young karate athletes is expected to provide the coaching staff with valuable information for assessing the team’s current level and identifying areas requiring further development.
The participation also highlighted the importance of maintaining a long-term development programme aimed at building a strong pool of athletes capable of representing Oman at major international competitions. Greater international exposure, training camps and structured programmes for promising athletes across different age categories will remain important elements in this process.
REFEREEING ACHIEVEMENT
Oman also made a notable contribution on the officiating side, with seven Omani referees holding Asian licences participating in the championship’s refereeing courses, examinations and competition management.
The officials were Yousuf bin Muslim al Siyabi, Hilal bin Mohammed al Abdali, Mohammed bin Khalifa al Hinai, Adil bin Salim al Hinai, Tariq bin Jumaa al Raisi, Khalifa bin Hamad al Rasbi and Zulfa bint Saif al Kindi.
Five of the Omani Asian referees successfully passed the classification and promotion examinations held alongside the championship.
Yousuf bin Muslim al Siyabi earned an RA Referee classification in kumite, while Hilal bin Mohammed al Abdali also achieved the RA Referee classification in kumite.
Meanwhile, Adil bin Salim al Hinai, Tariq bin Jumaa al Raisi and Mohammed bin Khalifa al Hinai were awarded the JA Judge classification in kumite.
The achievement represents another important milestone for Omani karate officiating and reflects the technical competence of the country’s referees and their ability to meet the standards required at the continental level.
Their success also strengthens Oman’s representation in the management of Asian competitions and underlines the continued development of the country’s officiating system.
Participation in the championship provided the Omani officials with an opportunity to enhance their technical knowledge, follow the latest developments in the international karate rules and gain further practical experience through continental-level competition.
The Oman Karate Committee continues to support the participation of national teams, coaches and referees in international events, recognising the importance of international exposure in developing the sport as a whole.
Such participation also contributes to the committee’s longer-term plans for developing athletes, coaches and officials, while supporting the organisation of specialised competitions and technical courses.
The Amman championship therefore represented another important step in Oman’s ongoing efforts to develop karate. The experience gained by the athletes is expected to contribute to their readiness for future competitions, while the refereeing achievements further strengthen Oman’s position on the Asian and international karate stage.
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