Shooter Wadha launches Oman’s campaign at Rio Olympics

Rio de Janeiro: Omani shooter Wadha Al Balushi will launch the Sultanate’s campaign in the Rio Olympic Games on Sunday.
Wadha is the among the four athletes, two sprinters and two shooters, will be representing Oman at the Games.
Wadha will be competing in two shooting events, 10m air pistol and 25m pistol, and she will start her campaign in the preliminary rounds of the 10m air pistol on Sunday.
“Undoubtedly the participation in Olympic Games is a dream of any athlete in the world in view of the great competition. Here we get to meet the best athletes from around the world,” she said.
“On Sunday, I will start my participation in the 10m air pistol competition and taking on the best shooters of the world,: she added.
Meanwhile, Oman swimming referee Abdulmunim Al Alawi will be officiating in the open water swimming competition which will be a new achievement for Omani sports.
On Friday night, the Sultanate delegation enjoyed their participation in the simple but impressive inaugural ceremony with the shooting ace Hamed Al Khatri carrying the Omani flag and leading the contingent into the famous Maracana Stadium.
The Sultanate’s delegation, headed by Oman Olympic Committee chief Sheikh Khalid Mohammed Al Zubair, includes OOC Secretary-General Taha bin Sulaiman Al Kishry and Kadhim Mohammed Al Balushi (director) and other officials.
Oman will be represented by two sprinters Barakat Al Harthi and Mazoon Al Alawi and shooters Hamed Said Al Khatri and Wadha Nasseer Al Balushi.
The athletes are accompanied by their coaches including Mohammed Al Hooti and shooting team Lieutenant Colonel Rashid Salim Al Balushi, director of shooting team, and Lieutenant Sulaiman Hamed Al Hinaai, shooting team administrator, and Lieutenant Hilal Sultan Al Rasheedi, rifle team coach.
Olympic virtues
OOC chief Sheikh Khalid Al Zubair, after the official inaugural ceremony, said that ‘the participation of the Sultanate in the Olympic Games finds a great support from all in Oman in view of the great importance of the Games’.
Al Zubair pointed to the necessity of Oman’s participation in the Games which prove the keenness of the Sultanate to establish Olympic principles and virtues.
“The Olympic Games and Oman’s participation are a great opportunity for Oman to establish the Sultanate’s position on the world sports map,” he said.
He emphasised that ‘Rio Games is considered as a great opportunity to enhance the attendance of the Sultanate in the Olympic Games in view of the development and progress in Oman sport and to achieve this objective, the Sultanate participated with high qualified athletes’.
Wise policies
Meanwhile, OOC Secretary-General Taha Al Kishry expressed his ‘trust in the capability of athletes in representing the Sultanate in an honorable way and their eagerness to raise its flag at the Olympic Games’.
“We are fortunate to have the wise policies of the government which show great interest and give support to youth and sports in Oman,” he said.
Emphasising the importance of Oman’s participation in the Olympic Games, he said: “We hope that this participation will to be distinctive with strong performances and honorable results.”
Taha also urged the Omani participants to endeavour to achieve good results.