Oman’s national karate team is finalizing preparations ahead of the 24th Asian Karate Championships for Cadets, Juniors, and Under-21 athletes, scheduled to take place from September 8 to 11 in Amman, Jordan. The event, hosted at Arena Hall in Al Hussein Youth City, is poised to draw approximately 350 competitors from 30 countries across Asia.
Representing Oman in the kumite discipline will be athletes Al Yaqdhan al Abdali, Mohammed al Shabibi, Mukhtar al Omari, and Sharifa al Shabibi, who will compete in various age groups and weight categories. The Omani delegation is led by Shaihan Ahmed bin Said al Zakwani, a member of the Oman Karate Committee, while the team’s training has been directed by international coach Ali bin Said al Shabibi.
In preparation for the championships, the team has engaged in an intensive training program focused on enhancing physical conditioning, technical skills, tactical awareness, reaction speed, and precision in both offensive and defensive techniques. Coach Ali bin Said al Shabibi has emphasized addressing identified technical weaknesses and refining tactical strategies to effectively counter the diverse fighting styles anticipated from their Asian opponents.
Beyond athlete participation, Oman will also be represented by seven referees at the championships: Yousef al Siyabi, Hilal al Abdali, Mohammed al Hinai, Adil al Hinai, Tariq al Raisi, Khalifa al Rasbi, and Zulfa al Kindi. These officials are set to take part in Asian refereeing courses and examinations conducted alongside the competition before officiating matches. Their involvement is aimed at enhancing their expertise and understanding of the latest International Karate Federation rules, which is expected to benefit domestic karate events in Oman.
Oman’s engagement at the championships reflects a broader ambition to elevate the national team’s competitive standards, improve technical and officiating capabilities, and strengthen the country’s presence on the international karate scene. The event will also gather prominent figures from the international and Asian karate communities, including World Karate Federation President Antonio Espinos and Asian Karate Federation President Major General Nasser al Razouqi.
As the tournament approaches, Omani officials and athletes are focused on turning their extensive preparations into strong performances, contributing to the ongoing development and recognition of karate within the Sultanate.