Oman’s gold tally reaches 7 at GCC Games in Doha

Muscat: Oman’s sprint relay teams stole the spotlight at the fourth GCC Games in Doha on Friday as the men’s quartet powered to gold and the women’s team secured silver, helping the Sultanate raise its overall tally to 20 medals, including seven gold, three silver and 10 bronze medals.

The men’s 4x100m relay team comprising Ali Al Balushi, Mulham Al Balushi, Rashid Al Asmi and Mohammed Al Saadi delivered a dominant performance to clinch gold and cap another successful day for Omani athletics.

The women’s 4x100m relay quartet of Azza Al Ya’rubi, Mazoon Al Alawi, Hanaa Al Qasmi and Alia Al Mughairi also produced a spirited display to take silver against strong Gulf competition.

Athletics has emerged as Oman’s biggest source of medals at the regional event, with several athletes delivering standout performances on the track and in the field.

Sprint star Ali Al Balushi earlier claimed gold in the men’s 100m race, while team-mate Mulham Al Balushi secured silver to complete an impressive Omani one-two finish.

Mazoon Al Alawi added another gold medal after excelling in the women’s long jump, while Fatik Beit Jaaboub secured top honours in the men’s high jump after sharing first place with Qatar’s Olympic champion Mutaz Barshim.

Hanaa Al Qasmi also earned bronze in the women’s 400m event, while Ahmed Al Abdul Salam collected bronze in the men’s 400m race.

Also on Friday, in shooting, Salem Al Naabi delivered a composed performance to clinch silver in the men’s 10m rifle competition.

The women’s 10m rifle team of Safaa Al Jabri, Al Anoud Al Khalili and Amina Al Tarshiya contributed another bronze medal to Oman’s tally.

Earlier, Oman’s fencing team also enjoyed notable success, collecting five medals led by Israa Al Siyabi, who won gold medals in both the foil and épée categories.

Ali Al Busaidi claimed bronze in foil fencing, while Ahmed Kaskas and Al Harith Al Harthi secured bronze medals in the épée competitions.

The Sultanate’s medal haul began with the taekwondo team, who bagged a total of five medals. Fidaa Al Barwani won gold in the women’s 49kg category, while bronze medals came from Nebras Al Touqi, Omaima Al Hina’i, Mohammed Al Hajri and Shabib Al Sinani.