Muscat, August 25
The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Oman Hockey Association (OHA), is preparing to host the 2024 Asian Youth Cup for men and women, which will be held from November 26 to December 15 at the new hockey stadium in Al Amerat. This is the second major sporting event of its kind hosted by the Sultanate, following the successful 2023 edition held in Dhofar Governorate last June.
This edition is expected to witness the participation of 10 teams in both the men's and women's categories.
The men's competition schedule will include the teams of Oman, Bangladesh, China, Chinese Taipei, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Thailand. The matches will be held from November 26 to December 4. While the women's teams from Bangladesh, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand will compete from December 7 to 15.
The 2024 AFC Youth Championship will serve as the qualifiers for the 2025 FIFA Youth World Cup for men and women. The top six men’s teams will qualify for the World Championship to be held in India, while the top five women’s teams will qualify for the World Cup, the venue of which has yet to be determined.
Shaker Munir, technical expert at the Oman Hockey Association, commented on the importance of hosting the event, saying: “Hosting this tournament reflects Oman’s continued commitment to strengthening its position as a global sporting destination, especially after its success in hosting the 2024 Hockey Fives World Cup.” He pointed out that Oman has made remarkable progress in hockey, making it a key destination on the continental and international sports map.
He added that the Oman Hockey Association, under the leadership of Dr Marwan bin Jumaa Al Jumaa, has developed a strategic vision for hosting major tournaments, and that over the past three years it has succeeded in organizing a number of sporting events at the continental and international levels. He also noted that the national hockey fives team ranked second in the world, which reflects the efforts made to improve the level of players.
Munir added that preparations for hosting the Asian Youth Cup began immediately after the Asian Federation approved Oman's hosting of the tournament, as a technical committee was formed to follow up on the arrangements and organizations, and ensure the stadium's readiness according to the required standards.
This tournament will be a golden opportunity for the national team and Omani youth hockey to prove their skills and qualify for the world stage, in addition to being a window to discover new talents in the game at the Asian level.
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