SPORTS REPORTER
MUSCAT, OCT 13
Oman’s para athletes left Muscat on Tuesday with their preparations complete for the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games, following a series of training camps at home and abroad designed to sharpen their competitive edge.
The Games will take place in Japan from October 18 to 24, with Oman’s athletics and handcycling representatives looking to translate months of preparation into strong performances on the continental stage.
The latest group departed Muscat International Airport for Osaka, joining athletes and officials who had travelled earlier. Their preparation programme was organised by the Oman Paralympic Committee, with support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MoCSY) through its promising athletes programme.
Tuesday’s travelling squad included Mohammed al Mashaykhi, Taha al Harrasi, Mutasim al Saadi, Talib al Balushi, Muhanna Awlad Thani, Fawzi al Hubaishi, Mohammed al Qasmi, Iman al Shamsi and Rawan al Hasani.
They were accompanied by delegation administrator Rahma al Hajri, coaches Awf al Maamari, Asaad al Qarni and Sami al Razli, and physiotherapist Hani al Shammakhi.
Dr Mansour bin Sultan al Tooqi, Chairman of the Oman Paralympic Committee and head of the delegation, had already arrived in Japan alongside running coach Abdullah al Anbari and athletes Qusay al Rawahi, Othman al Habsi and Saif al Muqbali. Handcyclist Sami al Sulaimi, his coach Stefan Hoffmann and delegation administrator Adnan al Owaidi also travelled earlier.
Oman’s final preparations combined overseas competition, technical training and domestic camps, with programmes tailored to the requirements of each discipline.
TRAINING IN POLAND
In Poland, Al Mashaykhi, Al Harrasi, Al Shamsi and Al Qasmi trained under Al Razli and Al Maamari. The camp included two preparatory competitions, providing an opportunity to assess performance and refine technique ahead of the Games.
The running squad of Al Rawahi, Al Habsi and Al Muqbali completed a camp in Thailand under al Anbari. Alongside their training programme, the athletes had an opportunity to adapt to climatic conditions considered similar to those expected in Japan.
At home, Al Qarni supervised a residential camp at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher for Awlad Thani, Al Hubayshi, Al Balushi and Al Hasani. Sessions focused on improving physical conditioning and technical execution during the final phase of preparation.
Al Sulaimi’s handcycling build-up included a camp at Jabal Haat in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate after competing in the Challenge Breton International in France, where he contested four races within a week.
The French races provided valuable international competition, while the mountain camp focused on climbing, descending, endurance and overall fitness to meet the demands of his upcoming events.
Al Sulaimi, who finished third at the Asian Championships earlier this year, is preparing for his first appearance at the Asian Para Games.
Across the squads, the camps gave coaches time to address technical weaknesses, refine event-specific tactics and monitor athletes’ progress. With the preparation phase complete, the focus now shifts to delivering those improvements in competition against Asia’s leading para athletes.
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