Wednesday 12 / March / 2025
Muscat: A special ceremony was held yesterday at the headquarters of the Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) to honour the national fencing team, which secured a bronze medal at the Asian Junior Fencing Championship in Kuwait, held from 20 to 28 February 2025. The event aimed to celebrate the team’s achievement, inspire athletes, and highlight the growing success of Omani sports on the international stage.
The ceremony was attended by several high-ranking officials, including OOC Chairman Khalid Mohammed Al-Zubair, President of the Oman Fencing Committee Khalid Saeed Al-Shaibani, President of the Oman Women’s Sports and Gender Equality Committee Sayyida Sanaa Hamad Al-Busaidi, and OOC Secretary-General Taha Sulaiman Al-Kishry.
The event began with a visual presentation detailing the team’s preparation for the championship, the challenges they faced during the competition, and the role of their coaching staff, led by Captain Hisham Ali Karshod. The presentation underscored the intensive training programme that played a crucial role in securing this historic achievement and highlighted the positive impact it could have on the future of women’s fencing in Oman.
Following the presentation, Khalid Al-Shaibani and Khalid Al-Zubair formally honoured the medal-winning athletes—Jannah Mohammed Al-Sharjiya, Israa Saif Al-Siyabiya, and Salma Saeed Al-Daghishiya—along with their coach, Captain Hisham Ali Karshod, in recognition of his dedication in refining the team’s skills.
In his address, OOC Chairman Khalid Mohammed Al-Zubair praised the players for their determination and fighting spirit, describing the medal as a testament to the hard work and strategic efforts of the Oman Fencing Committee. He reiterated the committee’s commitment to nurturing and developing fencing talent in the country.
Echoing this sentiment, Oman Fencing Committee President Khalid Saeed Al-Shaibani acknowledged the dedication of the players, technical staff, and administrative team, attributing the success to their collective efforts. He affirmed that the committee is committed to expanding the sport’s reach and encouraging greater participation in fencing across Oman.
The athletes expressed their excitement and pride in achieving this milestone. Jannah Mohammed Al-Sharjiya highlighted the intense competition at the championship and credited the team’s strong spirit and the unwavering support of their coaches and management for their success. She said the achievement serves as a major motivation to continue striving for excellence.
Israa Saif Al-Siyabiya described winning the bronze medal as a dream come true after months of rigorous training, adding that it will serve as a stepping stone for future achievements. Meanwhile, Salma Saeed Al-Daghishiya expressed her pride in representing Oman at such a prestigious event, noting that the competition was fierce but their determination and perseverance paid off.
