MUSCAT, NOV 2
DAKAR, Senegal: Oman’s swimmer Hamed bin Sulaiman al Hasani will eye to impress and set new personal bests when he will launch Oman’s national team campaign at the fourth edition of the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026. The 16-year-old will make his Olympic debut in the men’s 400m freestyle on Tuesday with the heats scheduled for 10 am local time in Senegal (2 pm Oman time) at the Olympic swimming pool at Complexe Tour de l’Œuf in Dakar.
While Al Hasani prepares for his first Olympic appearance, Oman’s taekwondo representative Ziyad bin Ali al Balushi is continuing his final technical preparations ahead of his competition. The athlete is expected to arrive at the Olympic Village in Dakar on Friday before taking part in the men’s under-48 kg event on November 8 at Iba Mar Diop. Oman’s fencing representative Jana al Sharji is expected to arrive early next week. She will compete in the women’s individual épée event on November 10 at Dakar Expo in Diamniadio, bringing Oman’s participation in the Games to a close.
AL HASANI READY FOR FIRST OLYMPIC TEST
The young swimmer from Oman’s national aquatics team faces an important milestone in his sporting career as he prepares to compete in the preliminary heats of the men’s 400m freestyle on Tuesday. Al Hasani has been drawn in the first heat, alongside Tanzania’s Zak Okumen and Uganda’s Mark Arthur Wassi, who, at 17, is the oldest swimmer in the group. The preliminary round will be contested across four heats. The swimmers recording the fastest times will progress to the final, scheduled to take place on the same day, approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the heats. The remaining competitors will contest the other finishing positions based on their recorded times.
The 16-year-old has made the most of the days leading up to his debut, completing daily training sessions under the supervision of Algerian coach Mohamed Bouguera. The preparation programme included training at the same time as his scheduled race, allowing him to become familiar with the competition conditions and adjust his routine ahead of the event. Al Hasani is regarded as one of Oman’s promising young swimming talents, specialising in freestyle events ranging from 100m to 1,500m, as well as open-water swimming. His personal best stands at 4:27 in the 400m freestyle and 9:21 in the 800m freestyle. The young Omani is hoping to build on those performances in Dakar, improve his personal marks and gain valuable international experience at an important early stage of his sporting journey.
Oman’s Ambassador to Senegal, Rashid bin Ali bin Humaid al Badi.
Bouguera confident in swimmer’s readiness
Oman national aquatics head coach Mohamed Bouguera said Al Hasani was ready for his Olympic debut and aiming to improve his personal best. He explained that the swimmer had initially been scheduled to contest two events, but the men’s 800m freestyle was cancelled due to water-temperature conditions.
Bouguera said the Games would give the young swimmer valuable international experience and an opportunity to develop his competitive skills, expressing hope that his performance would reflect the progress made during preparations.
Oman’s Ambassador welcomes young athletes’ participation
Oman’s Ambassador to Senegal, Rashid bin Ali bin Humaid al Badi, welcomed the participation of Oman’s young athletes in the first Olympic event hosted on African soil, wishing them strong performances and new personal bests.
He said the Games offered valuable international experience and expressed hope that more Omani athletes would compete in future editions.
Al Badi praised Senegal’s preparations and the opening ceremony’s celebration of African culture. He also highlighted the Omani delegation’s traditional attire, with swimmer Hamed al Hasani carrying the national flag, as a proud expression of Oman’s cultural identity.
The ambassador commended the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MoCSY) and the Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) for supporting young athletes, reaffirming the embassy’s commitment to assisting the delegation throughout its stay.
