Thursday 19 / September / 2024
MUSCAT: Oman hopes to end its medal drought at the Asian Games when the national contingent competes in the forthcoming 19th Asian Games, which will be held in the Chinese city of Hangzhou from September 23-October 8.
The Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) on Tuesday gave the nod for the participation of Omani sportspersons in seven disciplines with a hope that the 13-year medal drought for the Sultanate of Oman ends this time.
The seven disciplines approved are athletics, weightlifting, sailing, shooting, hockey, beach volleyball, and swimming.
The decision was made at the OOC board meeting at its headquarters under the chairmanship of Khalid bin Muhammad Al Zubair, the OOC chairman.
Oman’s ace sprinter Barakat Al Harthi was the last athlete to bring a medal when he clinched a bronze in the blue riband 100 metres race at the Asian Games in the Chinese city of Guangzhou on November 22, 2010.
Since then two Asian Games have been held in 2014 and 2018 but Omani athletes returned empty-handed.
Barakat took the bronze in a time of 10.28s in Guangzhou, finishing behind Lao Yi of China (10.24) and Saudi Arabia’s Yasser Al Nasheri (10.26).
Barakat has been among the few Asian sprinters to go below the 10-second barrier when he achieved it in 2018 but his recent timings have been nowhere around that mark.
The other medals at the Asian Games have also come in athletics since Oman made their debut at the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi.
The maiden medal was achieved in 1986 at the Seoul Asian Games by the legendary Mohammed Al Malki when he won a bronze in the 400m and then followed it with the only gold for the Sultanate till date.
It was at the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing that Al Malki won the 400m race in 45.81sec.
The only other medal besides Al Malki and Barakat was grabbed in 1998 Asian Games in Jakarta when the 4x100m relay team won the bronze.
The quartet had initially finished the race fourth but a disqualification of the Qatar team earned them the bronze. The Omani quartet comprised Jahad Al Sheikh, Hamood Al Dalhami, Mohammed Al Hooti (current national team coach) and Ahmed Al Maamari.
Hopes are high this time with the athletes recently bringing in laurels at the recently-concluded Pan-Arab Games in Algeria, where they clinched six medals including two gold medals.
The gold medals were won by high jumper Fatek Beit Jaaboub and the 4x100m quartet, comprising Rashid Al Asmi, Barakat Al Harthi, Mohammed Al Saadi and Ali Al Balushi.
Other than the athletes, the sailors also shone in Algeria as they claimed five medals, including two gold that were won by Tameem Al Balushi in Optimist class and team title in the same event. Capping the excellent run at the Games was the gold for weightlifter Amer Al Khanjari.
Sailors and athletics will once again lead Oman’s medal hopes with weightlifting and beach volleyball capable of springing a surprise.
Hockey team earned their qualification for the Asian Games but a medal will be a long shot given powerhouses like India, Pakistan, South Korea, Japan and Malaysia will be in fray.
For national shooters and swimmers, the participation at the continental level is expected to serve them better with the competition in these events expected to be world class.
The recent performances have certainly provided a glimmer of hope that Oman sportspersons could achieve success, though the Asian Games is a much more competitive and stronger multi-disciplinary sports event.
At the OOC board meeting, the auditor’s report of financial statements for the second quarter of this year were discussed, in addition to developments in the existing coordination with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth to follow up on the implementation of the recommendations approved by the joint meeting that brought together officials of the ministry and OOC.
The 19th Asian Games 2022 in Hangzhou, China was originally scheduled to take place from September 10-25 in 2022 but was postponed to 2023 due to concerns of COVID-19 pandemic in China.
Now branded as Hangzhou 2022 the upcoming pan-Asian multi-sport event will be held in Zhejiang Province in China. Hangzhou will be the third Chinese city to host the Asian Games, after Beijing in 1990 and Guangzhou in 2010.
At the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Oman had sent teams in eight disciplines - hockey, beach volleyball, swimming, sailing, weightlifting, shooting, tennis and athletics.
In Hangzhou, it would be Oman’s 11th Asian Games appearance since making their debut in 1982.
