Omani sailing squad gains valuable experience at 2023 Allianz Sailing World Championships

Muscat: Oman Sail’s Para Sailing team concluded their campaign in the Netherlands at the 2023 Allianz Sailing World Championships after a series of tough races that underlined the experience and high standards the squad aims to reach. Taking part in the first Sailing World Championships to feature Para Sailing events, Marjan Al Balushi finished 11th in the Women’s Hansa, Nasr Al Rahbi finished 12th out of 15 in the Men’s Hansa, and the crew of Sami Al Sulaimi and Ghaliya Al Jabri finished 15th out of 16 in the RS Venture event.

Mohsin Al Busaidi, Oman Sail’s Head of Performance, said, “The results leave us with mixed feelings. We had hoped for a stronger showing but it is important to remain focused on the wider context. Some of the sailors at the Allianz Sailing World Championships have been sailing for decades. This is the level we are aiming for, and this event gave us a first hand look at what we need to do.”

“All four sailors began their journey in the sport in 2019 with the launch of Oman Sail’s SailFree initiative, a joint project with bp Oman and the Oman Paralympic Committee. They have already made significant progress and the exposure to the highest level in the sport will serve them well in the future,” he added.

Elsewhere, Abdulmajeed Al Hadhrami continued his quest for Olympic qualification in the Men’s Windsurfing iQFOiL where he finished 85th in a strong fleet. The top ten qualify automatically for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, while more places are on offer at competitions around the world in the coming months. Abdulmajeed will be part of the Oman team travelling to the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games, taking place from 23 September to 8 October, and also at the Asian Olympic Qualifier in Chon Buri, Thailand., from 10-20 December 2023. A Last Chance Regatta is also scheduled where the final places will be decided.

Mohsin Al Busaidi, Oman Sail’s Head of Performance, said, “The iQFOiL is one of the fastest-growing disciplines in watersports and we have a great opportunity to qualify. The Allianz Sailing World Championships featured the very best in the world and it was a chance to see where we stand and how to improve. The two regional events give us another way to qualify and time to take back our learning from Europe to Oman and prepare to end the year in strong form.”