Monday 28 / April / 2025
Muscat: Dr. Marwan Al Juma, President of the Oman Hockey Association (OHA), praised the team’s resilience and strategic planning after the national team won gold at the 2025 AHF Cup.
Al Juma noted that the success was built on lessons learned from past near-misses.
“At last, we were able to break Bangladesh’s streak. It was the result of dedication and strategic planning after the finals in 2022, where we lost to Bangladesh in a shootout,” he said.
Al Juma added: “Prior to the 2022 finals in Jakarta, we had also lost to Bangladesh in the final in 2012 in Bangkok and also in 2008, played in Singapore.
Speaking from Jakarta, Al Juma said: “We are proud to say that we dominated this tournament and won gold with our own 100% Omani technical team, which is a first.”
Shakir Munir, OHA Technical Director, expressed his delight in the team’s accomplishment, calling it a “dream come true”.
“Witnessing our team clinch the first-ever AHF Cup is nothing short of a dream come true,” he told Times of Oman from Jakarta.
“This victory is not just a testament to our players’ hard work and dedication but also a reflection of our hockey association’s growing prowess in the world of hockey.”
Munir credited the team’s preparations, emphasising the importance of the intense training and strategic planning that led to the victory. He said: “From the intense training sessions to a pre-tournament camp in Pakistan, careful planning has led us to this historic achievement.”
“This triumph ignites a new era for Hockey Oman, inspiring the next generation and heralding Oman’s potential in the global hockey family.”
With the victory now in the books, Oman’s focus shifts to the upcoming Asia Cup in India.
Mohammed Al Gharabi, the administrative supervisor of the team, outlined the future plans for the team. “We will continue to intensify training in the coming period to prepare for the Asia Cup. The focus will be on refining individual skills, tactical drills, and further enhancing physical readiness,” he said.
“We are confident these preparations will significantly raise our performance level.”
