Oman Sail celebrates impressive performance at The Admiral's Cup in Thailand
Khamis Al Mashaikhi started strongly by winning the opening race, and was consistent throughout, also notching a third-place finish in round eight of 11. The top seven places all went to local sailors from the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand in what was a very strong showing for the hosts.
Oman's Hadeel Yousuf Al Mushaifri finished 35th out of 51 and Tarteel Zaid Al Hasani ended the event in 47th. Both have gained valuable experience as they continue to develop as sailors on the international stage.
Hood Al Nofli showed remarkable character to recover from a shaky start to achieve six podium finishes from the last seven races – including three wins – to win the Silver fleet competition. Teammate Mohammed Al Qasimi narrowly missed out on third place but impressed as the regatta progressed, achieving two podium finishes.
The Omani delegation was led by Hashim Al Rashdi, Team Leader and Sultan Al Zadjali, Optimist Coach.
Hashim Al Rashdi said, 'This was an excellent experience for all five of our sailors. Each sailor is at a different stage of their development, so to end the Admiral's Cup with a top ten finish in the Gold fleet and a winner and fourth place in the Silver fleet is great. We worked on tactics and mentality in training, and it was evident in the performances that the sailors recognise their strengths and are able to shake off difficulties and approach each race with renewed focus. We will look to build on these performances throughout the coming season and have every confidence that the sailors will continue to improve.'
The Admiral's Cup 2025 was organised and hosted by the Royal Varuna Yacht Club in Pattaya, Thailand, from 6-10 February.
The team will represent Oman in several regattas throughout the year, including Winter Cup, GCC Beach Games in April, Oman Sailing Championships in August and the 14th edition of Mussanah Race Week in October and IODA in October-November in Oman.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times of Oman
an hour ago
- Times of Oman
Registration now open for 14th edition of Mussanah Race Week presented by ASYAD
Muscat – Registration is now open for the 14th edition of Mussanah Race Week, presented by ASYAD. Held from 15-21 October 2025 at Barceló Mussanah Resort, the event will bring together over 100 sailors from around the world for a week of coaching, camaraderie and competition in Optimist, ILCA 4, ILCA 6, ILCA 7, Hansa 303 and the inclusive RS Venture Connect class. The Mussanah Sailing School, operated by Oman Sail, has been designated a Category A High Performance Centre by the Asian Sailing Federation (ASAF), and is also the base for Oman's National Sailing Teams, giving the young sailors the chance to experience international standard facilities as they take the next step on their journey in sailing. Conditions in Mussanah are also expected to be ideal for sailing once again this year to give some of the region's top sailing talent the perfect platform to showcase their skills. During the event, Oman Sail coaches will also hold daily community 'Try Sailing' sessions to introduce people from the local community to the sport and experience the feeling of being on the water with a qualified instructor. The initiative aims to inspire the next generation of Omani sailors and show how accessible sailing can be at Oman Sail's Mussanah Sailing School based at Barceló Mussanah Resort. Abdulaziz Al Shidi, Acting Sailing Director at Oman Sail, said, 'The standard of sailing [within the region] is improving year on year so we are excited to welcome a high calibre of athletes, along with their coaches and families, to Mussanah in October for a week of racing, learning and mutual understanding. The event promises to be a celebration of the sport as well as a chance for young sailors to interact, grow as athletes and individuals, and gain experience of the high level regatta environment – all in the spirit of friendship and sportsmanship.' Shaima Al Asmi, Oman Sail's Operations Executive and Mussanah Race Week Project Manager, added, 'Mussanah Race Week has always been known as a festival of sailing that goes beyond racing to promote friendship, inclusion and mutual understanding. This year marks the 14th edition of the event, which is an undeniable success story for sailing in Oman and Oman Sail, and we are looking forward to welcoming the next generation of sailing stars to our shores for another wonderful week on the water.' Competition at Mussanah Race Week will begin after three practice days, where 12 races in each class - no more than three per day – will decide the winners. Prizes will be awarded for the overall top three in each class, as well as the Junior top three for sailors under the age of 12, and the girls top three, as well as the overall Team Racing competition. Oman Sail and the Barceló Mussanah Resort will also host a BBQ night for all sailors, staff and families to offer a unique opportunity to experience authentic Omani hospitality and get to know each other in the idyllic surroundings of the resort. The 2024 edition of Mussanah Race Week achieved Gold Clean Regatta Certification from Clean Regattas, the world's leading sustainability certification, in recognition of Oman Sail's commitment to preserving the environment during the event. Initiatives including a beach clean-up, waste reduction measures on-site, a recycling programme and the elimination of single use plastics underlined the potential for sailing to be a clean sport. Similar initiatives will be in place this year, including a beach clean-up during the event days. Mussanah Race Week 2025 is supported by presenting partner ASYAD and venue partner Barceló Mussanah Resort. More information about the event can be found on the Oman Sail website.
Observer
2 days ago
- Observer
Seeb gear up for Goa clash to secure spot in AFC CL
MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman's representative, Seeb Club, are primed for a crucial showdown against India's Sporting Clube de Goa on Wednesday as they eye to secure a place in the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 Group Stage. The match will be staged at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa at 6:00 pm (Oman time). Under the technical leadership of experienced Romanian coach Valeriu Tița, Seeb are targeting to become the first Omani club to reach the group stage of the newly formatted tournament. The team arrived in Goa on Saturday to acclimatise to the local conditions and will hold several training sessions to fine tune both technical and tactical plans ahead of the encounter. Seeb's continental historic milestone was firmly established in 2022, when they famously lifted the AFC Cup, etching one of the greatest moments in Oman's sporting history. The club, who clinched their fourth league title in the 2024/25 season, are now chasing up to add another chapter to their international success story. Seeb now chasing up to add another chapter to their international success story The road to Goa has been marked by a busy pre-season for Seeb as Muscat based team played the Super Cup against Al Shabab, losing narrowly 5-4 on penalties after a goalless draw. In the four-team friendly tournament in Salalah, Seeb edged past Al Nasr 2-1 before a tight 1-0 defeat to Oman's Olympic team. A further friendly saw them defeat Dhofar 3-1, after which the squad returned to Seeb to continue preparations at their home base. Earlier last month, Seeb have made a number of notable signings and renewals. Senegalese forward Abdulaziz Sesse joined Seeb squad while Marwan Tuaib al Siyabi returned to the club after a season with Al Nasr. Oman national team midfielder Abdullah Fawaz has signed a one-year deal, and striker Musab al Shaqsi arrived from Bahla Club. The club has also renewed contracts with seasoned stars including Mohammed al Musallami, Ali al Busaidy, Tamim al Balushi, Ahmed al Rawahi, Zaher al Aghbari, and Mutasim al Wahaibi ensuring a blend of fresh talent and experienced leadership. The winner of the match will progress to the group stage of the AFC Champions League Two The winner of the match between Seeb and Goa will progress to the group stage of the AFC Champions League Two, while the losing side will drop into the AFC Challenge League. Seeb's ambitions are clear as they aim to build on last season's quarterfinal finish in the AFC Challenge League where they bowed out to Kuwait's Al Arabi SC, and make a resounding statement in Asia once again.
Muscat Daily
2 days ago
- Muscat Daily
Queiroz faces tough test with Oman's WC hopes on the line
Muscat – Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz will lead Oman in the decisive fourth round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the national team aiming for its first-ever appearance in the tournament. Oman will compete in Group A alongside Qatar and the UAE. The first match is scheduled for October 8 against hosts Qatar in Doha, followed by a face-off with the UAE at the same venue. Queiroz, 71, has coached Portugal, Colombia, Iran and South Africa, in addition to stints with Real Madrid and as assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. He led Iran to two World Cups and Egypt to the Africa Cup of Nations final in 2021. Sports analyst Hilal bin Hamad al Mukhaini described Queiroz as a 'big name in the world of coaching' with 'extensive and diverse experience with international teams'. He told ONA the appointment was an important step but stressed it must be backed by 'hard work and sufficient time for the coach to implement his technical ideas'. Former Oman captain Fawzi Bashir said the appointment was a 'successful decision' by Oman Football Association. 'He is no stranger to the region, having worked with Gulf clubs and national teams. This gives him an advantage in understanding the nature of the Gulf player,' he said. Former Oman captain Fawzi Bashir Bashir added that the qualifying campaign would require 'integrated work from the technical, administrative and medical staff, as well as from the fans', with the greatest responsibility on the players. Sports journalist Walid bin Zaher al Abri said the change was needed after recent below-par performances, including a 3-0 defeat to Kyrgyzstan. 'When we talk about Queiroz, we're talking about a coach with a leadership personality and extensive experience.' Abri explained that Queiroz has the ability to bring a technical shift in the national team, but faces significant challenges, particularly in familiarising himself with the players. 'This is complicated by the distinct environment of the Omani team compared to his previous assignments with Iran, Colombia and Egypt – teams with strong leagues and many players active in Europe.' Sports analyst Hilal bin Hamad al Mukhaini He added that the Omani league is comparatively underdeveloped and the national team has an older average age, both of which present further challenges for Queiroz to overcome. According to football coach Nasser bin Mohammed al Hajri, the change came with 'some risk' but was necessary. 'In my opinion, he is the most suitable. He has sufficient technical experience and understands the game in the Gulf region,' he said, add-ing that assistant coach Hamad al Azani's knowledge of the players would help bridge Queiroz's lack of direct familiarity.
