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Observer
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Observer
MoCSY organises the 2nd edition of Woodball championship
MUSCAT, JUNE 17 The second edition of the Woodball Championship kicks off on Thursday, organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MoCSY), represented by the Sports Activities Department. The championship will run until June 21 and will take place at the sub-grass field of Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher. This championship follows the notable success of the first edition held last year on the beach courts of Sohar Sports Complex, which saw broad participation and enthusiastic engagement from various age groups. In a special statement, Mohammed al Neyadi, Head of the Amateur Sports Section and the official in charge of overseeing emerging, non-federated sports in the Sultanate of Oman, explained that Woodball is a sport suitable for all age groups and is known for its flexibility. It can be played on beaches, sand, grass, or even uneven surfaces adding an element of challenge and excitement to the game. Al Neyadi pointed out that the sport closely resembles golf in style but has been modified to be more accessible, diverse, and easier to play. Omani players have quickly achieved strong regional and international rankings, thanks to the game's adaptability and inclusive nature. He emphasised that the Amateur Sports Section was established as part of the Ministry's new strategic direction to support emerging sports that do not yet have official federations or committees. The section aims to support these sports through organised events, the creation of national teams, and participation in international competitions aligning with Oman Vision 2040's goal of building a 'creative human-centered society.' In a related statement, Samira al Shaikhali, Director of Sports Activities at the MoCSY , expressed her pride in organising the second edition of the championship. We are pleased with the growing momentum around wooden ball, and this tournament reaffirms our commitment to supporting modern sports and providing space for their growth, she said. We've seen increasing numbers of participants and players from different governorates, which is a promising sign of the sport's acceptance in the community. She added that the Sports Activities Department is working to sustain these initiatives not just by organizing championships, but also through collaboration with schools, clubs and youth centers to spread the game further. We look forward to organising broader community tournaments, increasing the number of qualified coaches, and building a strong base of players who can represent Oman in international arenas. Woodball was first introduced in Oman in 2007 in preparation for participation in the 2010 Beach Games hosted in the Wilayat of Al Musannah. It was one of the key competitive sports at the time. This championship is part of the Amateur Sports Section's plan to ensure the game's continuity especially after the dissolution of the Omani Committee for Sepaktakraw, Kabaddi, and Woodball. These sports have since been incorporated under the section's supervision to preserve their technical and administrative levels and ensure their continued presence in the sports landscape.
Sharjah 24
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Sharjah 24
SSC honours Emirati Champion Abdullah Nasser Al Hammadi
The honouring was to celebrate his remarkable achievements during the sports year, achieving five first-places at the regional and continental levels, and raising the UAE flag in several international championships. Great effort During the honouring, His Excellency Issa Hilal praised Al Hammadi's great efforts in representing the UAE, emphasising that his achievements reflect the rapid development of air sports in the country and deserve full support and appreciation. His Excellency Issa Hilal expressed his pride in the champion's accomplishments, noting that paragliding has gained a distinguished presence thanks to distinguished champions like Abdullah Al Hammadi, who continuse to raise the UAE's flag in various forums. Honouring During the meeting, an honorary shield was presented on behalf of the Council in recognition of Al Hammadi's sporting achievements, which have contributed to enhancing the status of the Emirate of Sharjah and Emirati sports at the international level. For his part, Al Hammadi said that he is proud to have raised the UAE flag on five international occasions this year, and he promises everyone to continue the journey with strength and passion. He also extended his sincere thanks and deep appreciation to the Sharjah Sports Council for this honour, which holds great moral value in his career. The meeting concluded with a photo in an atmosphere reflecting the commitment of the sports leadership in the Emirate of Sharjah to supporting Emirati champions, its commitment to enhancing the status of individual sports, and encouraging national talent to continue to excel in regional and international championships. Achievements Abdullah Nasser Al Hammadi's most notable achievements in 2025: • Third place in the Sharjah International Paragliding Championship • First place in the Beach Games – Sultanate of Oman (Target Landing Category) (Gulf Olympic Championship) • First place in the Beach Games – Sultanate of Oman (Cone Knockout Category) (Gulf Olympic Championship) • First place in the First Asian Paragliding Championship – Precision Landing Category (Kazakhstan) • First place in the Second Asian Paragliding Championship – Precision Landing Category (Kazakhstan)
Mint
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Mint
Khelo India Beach Games 2025 in Diu becomes an anti-doping awareness centre, hundreds of athletes set to benefit
The National Anti-Doping Agency in India (NADA) is doing its work to good effect. The 2025 Khelo India Beach Games (KIBG) are underway in Diu since May 19, and Dr Usha Subhash Nikumbh, who is the Lead Dope Control Officer (LDCO) at NADA, is spreading the anti-doing message at the scenic Ghoghla Beach, the venue for the Beach Games, with the help of a score of volunteers. On Friday, they went to every sporting event on the beach and distributed informative colourful pamphlets in Hindi and English on the dos and don'ts for athletes. "We started this initiative in 2018. The idea was to make athletes aware of what all they needed to do to stay clean," Dr Nikumbh informed SAI Media. "We go from event to event, from national championship to even academies and institutes. We were also at the recently concluded Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) in Bihar. "And since we have started this program, there is better awareness among athletes than before and fewer cases of breach too," she added. Dr Usha and her volunteers distributed four loose pamphlets, titled: All About Whereabouts, Be A Fair Play Ambassador, Keep the Best Food Forward and It Is Your Call. The "All About Whereabouts" sheds light on what athletes in the Registered Testing Pool (RTP) need to do first and foremost about their whereabouts. Like they need to submit their whereabouts information like the home address, email id, phone number, overnight accommodation address, where they are and doing what all through their day along with locations and time, their competition schedules as well as a 60-minute time slot for each day where they will be available and accessible for testing. Under "Be A Fair Play Ambassador", there is information in regard to what athletes, coaches and parents need to do. For athletes, it is "train and compete clean", "refrain from prohibited substances and methods", "submit your samples in time", and "speak up if you come across Anting Doping Rule Violations (ADRV)". For coaches, it's "educate your athletes about prohibited substances and methods", "explain the importance of the doping control process", "stay away from people serving a sanction", and "speak up if you come across ADRV'. For parents, it's "inculcate the virtues of competing clean", "educate your children about ADRV", "Encourage them to stay away from prohibited sentences", and 'speak up if you come across ADRV.' Under "It Is Your Call," the NADA stresses the importance of collective responsibility in order to do away with doping breaches, including calling out dishonourable acts and the offenders. In the fourth pamphlet "Keep the Best Food Forward", the NADA tries to dissuade athletes from taking supplements; for, they may have banned substances with the labels not showing them besides the side effects. Basically, the message is: don't rely on supplements, go natural and eat and sleep well and stay hydrated. Close to 1000 athletes from 31 states and Union Territories in India participated in the Khelo India Beach Games 2025 across six sports - pencak silat, beach soccer, beach volleyball, sepak takraw, open water swimming and beach kabaddi besides mallakhamb and tug of war as demonstration sport.
The Hindu
25-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Boxing demonstrates its punches at Khelo India Beach Games in hope of promoting sport in Union Territory
At the Khelo India Beach Games (KIBG) in Diu on Ghoghla beach, Tug of War and Mallakhamb were the two demonstration sports originally announced. But on Friday evening, where the poles and ropes of Mallakhamb were kept, now stood a boxing ring. Inside it was 37-year-old Suman Vijay Pahal absorbing punches from a junior almost half her age. In 2009, Suman was among a few Indian boxers who had gone to Sweden for an invitational tournament. One of the others was Mary Kom, Suman's senior. About 16 years later, Suman now stays in Daman – dividing her time between taking care of her kids and promoting the sport in the Union Territory. 'The main purpose behind doing this demonstration event is to encourage children to take up the sport and even include it in the Beach Games. In foreign countries, people gather in huge numbers and watch matches like a fight. They enjoy, have food, and see who can land the hardest punch. Here, not everyone can go indoors, or not all places will have indoor settings,' Suman told Sportstar about boxing's last-minute inclusion as a demonstration sport at the KIBG, where boxers from the Union Territory showed their punches. ALSO READ | Pro Kabaddi League players grapple with sand, hope for selection in PKL 2025 auction Initially, the push was to have the sport as a medal event at the tournament. But according to Vijay Pahal – the Competition Manager and Suman's husband – the Sports Authority of India (SAI) didn't allow it as they defined boxing as an indoor sport. In last year's Beach Games, which wasn't under Khelo India, boxing was a medal event. 'Boxing wasn't in the original schedule of the tournament. But seeing that the sport is one of the better performing ones from the Union Territory, this was done to showcase the talent our boxers possess. It is to show the level boxing has achieved here,' Vijay, who essentially introduced the sport to Daman in 2010 and now is a coach to most of the pugilists on display, explained. To bring back the craze with financial support According to sisters Muskan and Priyanka Banerje, who are 18 and 16 years old respectively, the sport in the Union Territory is doing just fine. The two, who wish to continue donning their gloves in hopes of playing it professionally, maintained that whoever is determined in boxing will do well. However 15-year-old Advaya Ramkushal Shukla, who began boxing after being inspired by Canelo Alvarez, felt there's a need to resurrect the excitement that was once there around the sport in the UT. 'Boxing is good in Daman but the craze is less. Facilities are there but they can be better. Better training will help take the sport forward. There was a lot of josh in pre-Covid times because the sport was new and everyone was excited. It has fizzled out now because the training isn't as frequent. Even the state of our rings isn't that great. Only a coach can make an athlete so training more often is very important,' the teenager said. READ MORE | How fearless athletes and tense parents swim through salty challenges of Open Water Swimming 'This [demonstration] will help because the craze will increase, people will watch it on the news. Boxing here will get a push,' he added. Suman, who works for the Western Railways, said how her perspective changed after shifting to this side of the country, which has helped her continue boxing without a second thought. 'As soon as I came from Haryana to this side of the country – the West – my mind completely opened up. There's no harassment, no one cares when you're going out, no fighting. This has strengthened my mind. My age isn't defining me. I don't feel that I'm coming up against younger boxers,' she, who even takes part in 10k marathons, said. Like many sports in India, boxing too faces the lack of support from the stakeholders and governments. 'The craze has increased a bit. There are a lot of athletes who come from financially poor households. If they can get scholarships, like States like Haryana provide, then it can help them. It'll motivate them. After a point, they feel like giving up because of lack of support,' Suman added. The Union Territory has shown glimpses of being able to punch above its weight at the Khelo India Youth Games level, having won a few medals in previous editions, but the region needs a lot more than just gloves to harvest pugilism's potential. Related Topics Khelo India Beach Games
India Gazette
20-05-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
Games organised with aim that players bring glory to country: Sports Minister Mandaviya on KIBG 2025
Diu (Daman and Diu) [India], May 20 (ANI): Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya believes the 'new' India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi not only shows dreams but also gives opportunities to fulfil them. On Monday, the Beach Games, held under the ever-expanding Khelo India umbrella for the first time, were formally declared open by the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, in a colourful ceremony on the Ghoghla Beach, the venue of the Games in Diu. While talking about the games, Mandaviya extended wishes to 1350-plus athletes participating in the competition. Mandaviya also confirmed that Diu will be developed as a destination for beach games and sports tourism. 'Beach Games 2025 was initiated on the coast of the Arabian Sea in Diu. Over 1,350 athletes are participating in the games. The games will be held in eight disciplines. The games are being organised for the second time. Looking at the organisation of this time and the last one, Diu is the best destination for beach games, and this is why the Prime Minister has decided that in the coming days, beach games will be organised in Diu. It will be developed as a destination for beach games and sports tourism,' Mandaviya told reporters. 'This is the new India under the leadership of PM Modi that not only shows dreams, but also gives opportunities to fulfil them. The games have been organised with the aim that the players bring glory to the country on a global level,' he added. Former India cricketer and 2007 T20 World Cup hero Joginder Sharma wished the athlete well and told ANI, 'I believe these competitions will bring glory to the tricolour on an international level. I wish the athletes win the most medals.' Former India badminton player and Commonwealth Games medalist Trupti Murgunde reflected on the 'fantastic initiative' and told ANI, 'So many states have participated, and even those, who don't have beaches around. But the enthusiasm to participate is seen. Diu is becoming the destination for beach games. This is a fantastic initiative.' (ANI)
