Latest news with #OmanBasketballAssociation
Observer
3 days ago
- Sport
- Observer
Oman finish fifth after close battle with UAE
MUSCAT, JULY 13 The Oman U-16 national basketball team concluded its campaign in the Gulf regional qualifiers for the Asian Championship with a dramatic 65–69 loss to the UAE in their final match, held at the Bahrain Basketball Association Arena in Umm Al Hassam, Manama. Oman approached the game with a defensive mindset, while the UAE team imposed their rhythm early on with fast breaks and inside scoring, ending the first quarter ahead 24–17. In the second quarter, the UAE continued to dominate as Oman struggled with defensive coverage and transition play. The UAE extended their lead, winning the quarter 17–11 and closing the first half with a 41–28 advantage. The third quarter saw a clear improvement in Oman's performance. The team increased its offensive intensity, particularly through Adam al Hinai and Saif al Yahyaei, who helped narrow the gap with swift movement and accurate shooting. Oman won the third quarter 24–15. The fourth quarter was evenly contested. Oman pushed hard to equalise and even led briefly, capitalising on the UAE's physical fatigue. Oman scored 11 points to the UAE's 7, bringing the game to a 63–63 tie at the end of regulation and forcing overtime. In the extra period, Oman rushed several plays, resulting in missed opportunities, while the UAE capitalised on their chances and scored 6 points to Oman's 2, securing a hard-fought 69–65 victory. For Oman, standout player Adam al Hinai scored 25 points, followed by Saif al Yahyaei with 12 points, Sami al Busaidy with 11, and Elias al Obaidani with 6. On the UAE side, Hussein Fadel led the scoring with 23 points, while Hamdan al Shaddadi contributed 11. In the second match of the final day, Saudi Arabia defeated Kuwait 73–50, securing qualification alongside Bahrain. With this result, Oman finished the qualifiers in fifth place. From the Gulf region, Bahrain qualified with a perfect record of 8 points from all wins, while Saudi Arabia came second with 7 points from three wins and one loss. Both teams have now secured their spots in the Asian U-16 Championship, which will take place in Mongolia this August. Oman's 12 player squad for the qualifiers included: Saddam al Shezawi, Khuzaymah al Shibli, Rashid al Isaei, Abdulrahim al Rushdi, Elias al Obaidani, Al Mulhim al Obaidani, Abdulsamad al Subhi, Muhannad al Batashi, Adam al Hinai, Jayyed al Kindi, Saif al Yahyaei, and Sami al Busaidy. The official delegation also included: Abubakar al Jahwari, Vice-President of the Oman Basketball Association (OBA); Saeed al Habsi, Acting Secretary-General; head coach Zouhair al Ayashi; assistant coach Ali al Balushi; team manager Ghassan al Busaidy; and physiotherapist Amer al Zaidi
Times of Oman
4 days ago
- Sport
- Times of Oman
Al-Harthi to participate in international training program in the United States
Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) has successfully secured a scholarship for participation in the International Coaching Enrichment Certificate Program (ICECP), which will take place in the United States from July 2025 to April 2026. National basketball coach Khalid Hamad Al-Harthi, from Oman Basketball Association, has been selected to participate in this program. This initiative comes as part of the technical support programs offered by Olympic Solidarity of the International Olympic Committee for the 2025–2028 cycle. The ICECP is considered one of the most prestigious and intensive educational programs for coaches. It is organized in collaboration between Olympic Solidarity and the University of Delaware, and includes a wide range of educational components such as field visits, group work, presentations, lectures, and project development. Participants will also benefit from the insights of guest speakers from various sports disciplines. The program targets coaches from all Olympic sports, with priority given to coaches in archery, athletics, basketball, fencing, hockey, judo, rowing, rugby, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, weightlifting, shooting, and wrestling. The first phase of the program will begin on July 15 via the University of Delaware's online platform. This will be followed by an in-person module at the university from October 16 to 22, and a third module from October 23 to 26. Participants will then take part in field-based training visits at specialized locations until November 1. The fifth module will be held in the coach's home country between November 2025 and March 2026, and the program will conclude with a final module in Lausanne, Switzerland, in April 2026. This program presents a unique opportunity for the Omani coach to acquire advanced knowledge and exchange experiences with elite international coaches, thereby contributing to the development of Oman's technical sports system. It is worth noting that the Olympic Solidarity Department at OOC continuously strives to benefit from as many international Olympic Solidarity programs as possible. This ensures the expansion of technical and knowledge-based support for athletes, coaches, and sports professionals through ongoing coordination with sports federations and committees to apply for available programs and scholarships, ultimately enhancing the overall sports ecosystem in the Sultanate of Oman.
Observer
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Tough start for Oman U-16 in Asian qualifiers
MUSCAT: Oman's U-16 national basketball team began its Gulf region qualifiers campaign for the Asian Championship with a heavy defeat against Bahrain, losing 44–96 in a match held on Monday evening at the Bahrain Basketball Association Arena in Umm Al Hassam, Manama. The game saw clear dominance from the Bahraini team, which imposed its rhythm from the very first minutes, taking advantage of its superior physical and technical preparation. Bahrain's players demonstrated accuracy in shooting and quick transitions in both offense and defense, while Oman's team struggled with rushed decisions and a lack of focus for most of the game. In the first quarter, Bahrain came out strong, asserting control through fast play and scoring from various ranges. Oman's players had difficulty penetrating Bahrain's defense, and the quarter ended 31–11 in Bahrain's favor. The second quarter showed a slight improvement in Oman's performance in terms of positioning and ball pressure. However, defensive lapses and repeated turnovers gave Bahrain easy scoring opportunities, allowing them to widen the gap further and close the quarter 29–12. In the third quarter, fatigue became apparent among Oman's players, whose defensive performance declined alongside a lack of concentration in passing and slow coverage. Bahrain capitalised on this, scoring heavily through fast breaks and ending the quarter 19–8. The Omani squad in the tournament includes 12 players, coached by Tunisian Zouheir Al Ayashi The fourth quarter witnessed individual attempts by Oman players to reduce the deficit, notably by Al Mulhim al Obaidani and Adam al Hinai, but Bahrain's defense remained solid and maintained their dominance. The quarter ended 17–13, sealing a comprehensive 96–44 win for Bahrain. From Oman's side, standout player Al Mulhim al Obaidani scored 17 points, followed by Adam al Hinai with 12 points, Rashid al Siyabi with 7 points, and Saif al Yahyai with 6 points. For Bahrain, Somto Patrick led with 15 points, while Mohammed Adel added 12, and Hassan Abdulqadir contributed 11 points. The Omani squad in the tournament includes 12 players, coached by Tunisian Zouheir Al Ayashi, with Omani assistant coach Ali al Balushi. Team management is overseen by Ghassan al Busaidy, with Amer al Zaidi serving as the team's physiotherapist. Also present to support the team is Abu Bakr al Jahwari, Vice-President of the Oman Basketball Association (OBA). UPCOMING MATCHES FOR OMAN: Oman continues its qualifying campaign with a crucial match against Kuwait on Wednesday. The third game will be against Saudi Arabia on Friday, July 11, followed by the final group match against the UAE on Saturday evening.
Observer
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Observer
OBA helds meeting to reviews plans
MUSCAT, JULY 3 As part of its ongoing efforts to develop the sport and enhance Oman's presence in regional and international arenas, the Board of Directors of the Oman Basketball Association (OBA) held an extended meeting yesterday evening at the Association's headquarters in the Oman Olympic Committee and Sports Associations building in the Wilayat of Bausher. The meeting was chaired by Eng Khalfan bin Saleh al Naabi, President of the Association, and attended by the vice-president and board members. The meeting began with a welcoming address from the President, who praised the efforts of the Association's working committees and the achievements accomplished under the operational plan. He also commended the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MoCSY) for the Association's activities, as well as the cooperation of clubs and parents of players in the national youth and girls' teams, which has played a vital role in motivating and supporting athletes throughout various stages of preparation. During the meeting, the Board discussed several key topics, foremost among them the preparations for Oman's hosting of the Arab Youth and Girls' 3x3 Basketball Championship, scheduled to be held in Dhofar Governorate this coming September. The meeting reviewed the latest developments related to the tournament, including the formation of supervisory committees and logistical and technical execution plans. The Board also discussed the readiness of the national U-16 team, which is currently participating in the West Asia regional qualifiers in the Kingdom of Bahrain from July 7 to 12. The Board reviewed updates from the team's training camp in Bahrain. In addition, the Board addressed the initial preparations for hosting the Gulf Men's 3x3 Basketball Championship, set to be held in November at Al Mouj in Muscat Governorate. This event is expected to contribute to raising the level of local competitions and expanding Gulf participation. The meeting further included a review of the remaining items of the 2025 operational plan, as well as reports from the technical committees on the programmes implemented during the previous period, particularly those from the athlete preparation centers in participating clubs, and the committees' plans for the upcoming months. The Board also reviewed progress on the FIBA Plus project, implemented by the Association in cooperation with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), which aims to develop basketball in Oman through improved governance and enhanced administrative and technical capacities within the national basketball system.
Observer
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Coach Ammar al Kathiri joins ICAB programme
MUSCAT, JUNE 18 The Oman Basketball Association has announced the nomination of national coach Ammar al Kathiri to participate in the International Coaching Apprenticeship in Basketball (ICAB) programme. The initiative is organised by the University of Delaware in collaboration with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), and the World Association of Basketball Coaches (WABC), with full support from the Olympic Solidarity programme. The programme will run from June to November 2025. The ICAB programme is recognised globally as a leading initiative in developing basketball coaches, combining academic instruction with practical field experience. It comprises four interconnected phases designed to enhance coaching capabilities through a blend of theoretical and practical learning. The first phase is an online module delivered twice monthly, featuring specialised lectures and applied assignments aimed at reinforcing modern coaching concepts. The second phase involves a two-day in-person module held on the University of Delaware campus, including interactive workshops and direct engagement with top training experts from the US. The third phase is a hands-on field experience in which participants are integrated into NCAA Division I basketball team programmes. This phase offers close-up exposure to professional coaching methods and team management systems. The programme concludes with a final in-person unit where participants return to the University of Delaware to present their acquired knowledge and propose a professional development plan tailored to the needs of their home environments. Coach Ammar al Kathiri will travel to the United States to participate in the in-person components of the programme, with all expenses covered by the Olympic Solidarity programme. In an exclusive statement, Al Kathiri expressed his pride and gratitude for the opportunity, saying Who wouldn't dream of learning basketball from its very source in America? Living daily with NCAA teams and observing their operations closely is every coach's dream. This is truly a priceless opportunity. He also appreciated the support of the OBA and the trust placed in him by the Technical Development Committee, adding This experience will be a turning point in my coaching career. We will be exposed to the latest theories and practices in the basketball world, and we'll return with practical knowledge that can help develop the game locally. For his part, Abu Bakr al Jahwari, Vic-President of the Oman Basketball Association (OBA) and Chairman of the Technical Development Committee, stated Coach Ammar's nomination aligns with the Association's strategy to empower national talents and expose them to world-class training experiences. We believe this investment will positively impact the future of basketball in Oman. He added Our partnership with Olympic Solidarity and the Oman Olympic Committee in such programs offers Omani coaches a unique opportunity to gain exposure to advanced methodologies and contribute to building a strong technical foundation for Omani basketball.
