Friday 10 / April / 2026
MUSCAT: Oman men's hockey team produced a dominant and consistent display to secure the title at the Men’s Asian Games Qualifiers, defeating Sri Lanka 3–1, in the final at the Royal Thai Air Force Hockey Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday.
Oman took an early lead in the 7th minute through Maitham Al Wahaibi, setting the pace for a confident performance. Aliyas Al Noufali then delivered a decisive contribution, scoring twice in quick succession in the 29th and 30th minutes to secure victory for Oman. His outstanding performance earned him the Player of the Match award.
With the win on Friday, Oman have now claimed the Asian Games Qualifiers title for the third consecutive time, having previously triumphed in 2018 in Muscat and again in 2022 in Bangkok. The achievement highlights Oman’s sustained excellence and growing prominence in Asian hockey.
Individually, Rashad Al Fazari was recognised for his exceptional performances throughout the tournament, earning both the Best Player and Emerging Player awards—further underlining the depth of talent within the Omani squad.
The 2026 Asian Games is scheduled to take place in Japan from 19 September to 4 October 2026.
Oman remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, a reflection of the team’s strength, discipline, and consistent hard work. Notably, the success has been achieved under the guidance of an all-Omani coaching and management team, demonstrating the significant progress and development of hockey within the Sultanate.
