Dubai, April 24
Oman handball team edged Qatar with a last-minute goal to win by 28-29 in the first GCC Youth Games being hosted by the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday. This was the second win for Oman after they beat hosts UAE earlier.
Oman had lost against Saudia Arabia and Kuwait in the other matches. Oman faces Bahrain on Thursday to determine the top three teams.
On Tuesday night, the Sultanate of Oman delegation took part in the official opening ceremony of the Games in Dubai Opera. The delegation included HH Sayyid Azzan bin Qais al Said, Vice-Chairman of Oman Olympic Committee, Taha bin Sulaiman al Kishri, Secretary- General of OOC, Qais bin Saud al Zakwani, board member, Lujaina bint Mohsen Haider Darwish, board member, Sanaa al Busaidy, Chairperson of Oman Committee for Women’s Sports and Gender Equality, and Kadhim al Balushi, Director of the Mission.
In present of Shaikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, and Shaikh Rashid bin Humaid al Nuaimi, Vice-President of the UAE Olympic Committee, Dubai Opera hosted the opening ceremony of the first edition of GCC Youth Games, with the participation of 3,500 male and female athletes competing in 25 sports in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Fujairah.
The ceremony, which lasted 40 minutes, included three themes: sustainability, cohesion, and youth, through the latest technological, artificial intelligence tools and using of sustainable materials, in addition to highlighting the deep-rooted fraternal relations between GCC people. The ceremony also witnessed a special aspect for youth through some action-packed and kinetic performances.
Table tennis competitions began on Wednesday, and will continue until April 27, at Shabab Al Ahli Club hall in Dubai. Oman are represented by Ali al Rawahi, Turki al Abri, and Nasser al Zaabi. Oman boys lost to Qatar 3-1 in their first match.
Oman girls also lost to Kuwait 3-0. Oman team was represented by Talia al Rawahiyah and Salma al Nasiriyah.
In the evening matches, Bahrain beat Oman 3-0 in the girls section, while UAE blanked Oman 3-0 in the boys section.
In volleyball, Oman slumped to their fourth defeat against Saudi Arabia 25-14, 25-15, 25-19.
Oman are already out of any medal contention and face Bahrain in their last match at Al Nasr Club hall.
Meanwhile, Oman golf team arrived in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, after completing preparatory training at the Al Mouj Golf Course.
The players list includes Adam bin Masoud al Barwani, Mahir Sampat, Pransh Jagwani, Muhib bin Jamil al Kathiri, Masoud bin Abdullah al Barwani, team official and Ahmed bin Faisal al Jahdhami, technical member.
After the conclusion of 10 game's competitions over 8 days, hosts UAE lead the overall medal standings with 138 medals, while Saudi Arabia occupy second place with 51 medals with more gold medals than Kuwait in third place with 57 medals, a difference in gold medals, while Oman occupy fourth place with 35 medals, Qatar are fifth with 19 medals and Bahrain are sixth and last with 26 medals.
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