MUSCAT: The Oman Automobile Association’s (OAA) long-serving chairman Brigadier (Retd.) Salim bin Ali bin Khalifa al Maskary has passed away after a brief illness at the age of 69. The ever-smiling, energetic chief of the OAA was symbolic of the motorsports events that the association hosted in abundance.
Condolences poured in from the motorsports world, with its global body chief, Mohammed bin Sulayem, leading the tributes. Salim al Maskary’s close connection to the region’s top drivers and motorsports fraternity was also recalled by the response from sportsmen.
Salim al Maskary joined the Oman Automobile Association’s (OAA) board of directors in 1993 as a managing director. In 2012, Al Maskary became the chairman of the OAA board of directors and served in the post until his death on October 13, 2024.
OAA vice-chairman Brigadier Jamal bin Said al Tai is now the acting chairman of the Oman motorsports body.
Anwar bin Ali bin Soomar al Zadjali, a veteran official at the OAA who worked for 32 years alongside Salim al Maskary, recalled al Maskary’s enthusiasm in his role as OAA chief.
“I had a long association with the late Salim al Maskary. He was an enthusiastic leader of the Oman Automobile Association. Under his chairmanship, the OAA started several championships,” Anwar, who was the rally director for the Oman International Rally Championship, said.
During his 12-year tenure as the OAA chief, the Oman Rally was revitalised into the Oman International Rally, and the signature tournament of the OAA, the Oman International Drift Championship, was started. The number of events under the OAA increased manifold, from 60 last year to 82.
Al Maskary led a group of motor enthusiasts with a thorough knowledge of the sport and its technicalities as the OAA scaled new heights by hosting several successful and popular championships and events that captured the attention of the fans.
“We were working as a team to ensure the transformation of the Oman motorsports scene. We were lucky enough to have some expert hands to make that possible,” the adviser to the OAA told Oman Daily Observer.
Mumtaz al Balushi, a motorsports enthusiast, said al Maskary was like a big brother.
“Thanks to his good leadership, the OAA is now in a strong position. Al Maskary was caring, like a big brother to many of us connected to the motorsports field. We miss our big brother.”
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