The Oman Hockey Association (OHA) has been prominently recognized at the 50th Statutory Congress of the International Hockey Federation (FIH), held recently in Doha, Qatar. Dr Marwan bin Juma al Juma, Chairman of the OHA and Vice-President of the Asian Hockey Federation, was awarded the FIH Order of Merit in acknowledgment of his extensive contributions to hockey at national, continental, and international levels.
Accompanying Dr Marwan was OHA board member Rudaina bint Amer al Hajri as part of the Omani delegation. The congress also marked the endorsement of a new strategic framework titled Made For Hockey 2032+, aimed at advancing the sport globally through expanded participation, enhanced governance, and strengthened international stature.
Following the award presentation, Dr Marwan expressed his pride in receiving the honor and dedicated it to all those involved in the development of hockey in Oman. He underscored the award as a collective achievement that also reflected the important role played by Omani professionals in sports administration across Asia and beyond. Dr Marwan emphasized that the recognition obligates stakeholders to further promote the sport by creating improved opportunities for players and officials alike.
The congress featured a video address from International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry, who commended the FIH’s initiatives to foster gender equality, sustainability, and increased digital engagement with younger audiences as aligned with the IOC’s Fit for the Future program. FIH President Tayyab Ikram reviewed the federation’s recent accomplishments and future priorities, which include athlete well-being, financial sustainability, inclusion, and innovation. Ikram highlighted ongoing efforts to provide national associations with greater access to international competitions and development programs supported by Olympic Solidarity.
Elections held during the congress brought new members onto the FIH Executive Board: Chuenchanok Nin Siriwat from Thailand, Hazel Kennedy from Zambia, Brenda Lucía Cáceres Mendia from Guatemala, Walter Kapounek from Austria, Erik Klein Nagelvoort from the Netherlands, and Deon James Morgan from South Africa. Additionally, the Lebanese Hockey Federation was approved for membership, increasing the total FIH roster to 147 national associations. Delegates also reviewed a proposal aimed at enhancing the federation’s regulatory and judicial systems to ensure greater transparency and good governance.
Alongside Dr Marwan’s recognition, other honors distributed included the FIH President’s Award to Shaikh Joaan bin Hamad al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, Andrés de Witt of Chile, and Patrick Keusters of Belgium. The Argentine Hockey Confederation received the Theo Ykema Award, while the Order of Merit was also presented to Deon Morgan of South Africa, Ravi Kant Srivastava of India, and Cameron Vale of Australia.
Dr Marwan highlighted that such international acknowledgment has the potential to inspire a new generation of Omanis to pursue careers in sports management, event coordination, and officiating, thereby enhancing the country’s contributions to global sports governance. He pointed out that developing hockey domestically requires broadening participation, investment in youth initiatives, education for coaches and umpires, and creating more competitive opportunities for talented athletes. He also stressed the importance of encouraging female participation and increasing the sport’s integration within schools and local communities to sustain long-term growth.