Nebras, Shams named Oman’s flagbearers for GCC Games

Muscat: Taekwondo athlete Nebras Al Touqi and women’s basketball player Shams Al Khonji have been named Oman’s flagbearers for the opening ceremony of the fourth GCC Games in Qatar on Monday as the Sultanate begins its latest regional campaign with hopes of surpassing its record medal haul from the previous edition.

The Games, hosted by Qatar from May 11 to 22 under the slogan “One Gulf... One Heart”, will officially open at Al Shaqab Indoor Arena in Doha with more than 1,074 athletes competing in 17 sports.

Oman’s delegation is led by His Highness Sayyid Azzan bin Qais Al Said, president of the Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) and head of mission, accompanied by secretary-general Abdullah bin Mohammed Bamkhalif and deputy head of delegation Dr Marwan bin Juma Al Jumaa, along with administrative, technical and national team officials.

Oman will compete in 11 sports — aquatics, taekwondo, table tennis, fencing, karate, shooting, athletics, 3x3 basketball, snooker, volleyball and bowling — with athletes aiming to continue the steady rise of Omani sport at GCC level.

Oman head into Doha determined to improve on its record-breaking performance at the 2022 GCC Games in Kuwait, where national teams collected 32 medals, including 12 gold, five silver and 15 bronze medals — the country’s highest tally in the history of the event.

The Sultanate first competed at the GCC Games during the inaugural edition in Bahrain in 2011, winning 11 medals, including four gold. Oman then increased their tally to 29 medals at the second edition in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, in 2015 before achieving its best-ever results in Kuwait four years ago.

Organisers said the opening ceremony would feature exceptional artistic and organisational displays reflecting the significance of the Gulf event, which brings together athletes from across the GCC in a celebration of regional unity and sporting excellence.

Oman’s administrative delegation manager Badr Aulathani confirmed that all logistical and organisational arrangements for the national teams had been completed, including accommodation, transport and medical support for athletes and officials throughout the Games.

Meanwhile, Oman’s fencing team arrived in Doha ahead of competitions scheduled from May 13 to 15 at Aspire Dome. The squad includes Ahmed bin Anwar Kaskas, Saeed Al Shuaibi, Ali Al Busaidi, Al Harith Al Harthy and Israa bint Saif Al Siyabi under the supervision of technical expert Hisham bin Ali Karshoud and coach Abdulrahman Adel Farouq.