MUSCAT, NOV 14
The Oman young karate athletes delivered a strong performance at the West Asia Karate Championship 2026, claiming six medals two silver and four bronze as the two-day regional competition concluded in the Jordanian capital of Amman on Friday.
Held at Princess Sumaya Hall in Al Hussein Youth City on November 12 and 13, the championship brought together 250 male and female athletes from eight countries, providing Oman’s emerging karate talents with a valuable opportunity to test themselves against some of the region’s leading competitors.
Saraya al Busaidi and Mahmoud al Maharbi led Oman’s medal charge, securing silver in their respective kumite categories. Abdullah al Aisari and Malak al Abduwani added two bronze medals in kata, while Mohammed al Maharbi and Ahmed al Numani completed the Sultanate of Oman’s medal haul with bronze in kumite.
Mohammed al Maharbi made his mark on the opening day of the championship, securing bronze in the junior men’s under-61 kg kumite category. The event saw Jordanian athletes claim gold and silver, while Al Maharbi shared third place with Palestine’s Amer Saleh.
Dr Sadiq bin Mohammed al Issa, head of the Omani delegation and Secretary of the Oman Karate Committee (OKC), attended the medal ceremony.
Oman’s athletes maintained their momentum throughout the championship, finishing with four medals in kumite and two in kata, highlighting the potential of the country’s next generation of karate competitors.
REGIONAL COMPETITION
The championship featured athletes from Oman, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Palestine, Lebanon, Qatar, Iraq and Syria, competing across the under-12, under-14, cadet, junior and under-21 age groups.
The opening day was dedicated to the cadet, junior and under-21 divisions, with the younger age groups taking centre stage on the final day.
Hosts Jordan dominated the overall medal standings with 89 medals, comprising 35 gold, 27 silver and 27 bronze. The UAE finished second with five gold, one silver and three bronze medals, while Syria took third place with four gold, 11 silver and 10 bronze medals.
AMBASSADOR RECEIVES DELEGATION
Following the championship, Shaikh Fahad bin Abdulrahman al Ojaili, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, received the Omani karate delegation in Amman on Saturday.
The reception followed the national team’s impressive six-medal campaign, which marked another encouraging step in the development of Oman’s young karate athletes.
The results also underline the Oman Karate Committee’s efforts to nurture promising talent, expand international exposure and build a competitive pool of athletes capable of representing the Sultanate of Oman at future regional and continental championships.
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