Muscat: Lujain bint Mohsen Al Zaabi, Board Member of the Oman Football Association, highlighted the mandatory inclusion of women on sports federation boards. “Our presence on the Board of Directors of the Association is a translation of the keenness that the Sultanate of Oman attaches to Omani women by allocating a mandatory women’s seat in all sports associations, in the belief in the role of Omani women and that they are capable of sports management with their contributions and achievements side by side with men to advance and promote Omani women’s sports in general and women’s football in particular” Al Zaabi said. She added that efforts to encourage women’s participation in sports have led to significant developments, including launching Oman’s first women’s futsal team and establishing the Women’s Futsal League in 2022. Over 193 players and 43 administrators have been involved, contributing to a growing base of women’s football talent across Oman.

Samira bint Shaneen Al Shukaili of the Oman Table Tennis Federation echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the rise of Omani women in sports. She pointed to successes like Talia Al Rawahy’s first-place win in the Qatar International Championship and Aisha Al Saidiya’s historic role as the first Gulf referee to officiate in the World Table Tennis Championship.

Noura bint Salem Al Balushi, Board Member of the Oman Athletics Federation, underlined how women’s achievements in athletics have inspired broader participation. She emphasized the importance of equal opportunities for women, noting, “The achievements of Omani women in athletics have contributed to encouraging girls in society to practice sports and care for them. The presence of women in the formations of the Board of Directors has positive repercussions represented in enhancing participation and increasing the number of women participating in sports activities, which contributes to creating a spirit of sports competition and encouraging gender equality in the fields of sports. It helps achieve equal opportunities for women to develop their sports and administrative skills, while enhancing their capabilities in this field and spreading awareness about the importance of sports for women and its health and psychological benefits and encouraging girls to practice sports by presenting inspiring models in various sports fields”

From volleyball to hockey, Omani women are shaping the future of sports in the Sultanate, with representatives like Radina bint Amer Al Hajri working to develop the women’s hockey team, and Aisha bint Abdullah Al-Jabri advocating for the expansion of women’s volleyball. Special Olympics Oman, led by Nabila bint Yaqoub Al Harthi, is also playing a key role in fostering social inclusion through sports for individuals with intellectual disabilities.