DAKAR : Omani swimmer Hamed bin Sulaiman Al Hasani is targeting improved personal bests on his Youth Olympic Games debut in Dakar, where he will contest the men’s 400m and 800m freestyle events.

The 16-year-old arrived with Oman’s aquatics squad, the country’s first team to reach the Olympic Village ahead of the Games, which run from October 31 to November 13.

Al Hasani is due to begin training at the competition venue on Friday before racing in the 400m freestyle on November 1 and the 800m freestyle on November 3. His personal bests in the events stand at four minutes, 27 seconds and nine minutes, 21 seconds, respectively.

His coach, Mohamed Bouguerra, said the priority was to gain experience against a strong international field, compete confidently and improve his times where possible.

Bouguerra acknowledged that advancing would be challenging given the strength of the competition, including swimmers born in 2009, but said the exposure would support Al Hasani’s long-term development.

The Grade 12 student, born on January 24, 2010, competes in freestyle distances from 100m to 1,500m, as well as open-water swimming.

His preparations included a training camp in Egypt from August 19 to September 1, followed by sessions at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat.

The swimming delegation includes Bouguerra and administrative, medical and media personnel. It was received at Blaise Diagne International Airport by Saheem bin Khalaf Al Subhi, acting head of Oman’s delegation.

Oman will also compete in taekwondo and fencing, with the remaining athletes expected to arrive according to their competition schedules.

Ziyad bin Ali Al Balushi is scheduled to contest the men’s under-48kg taekwondo category on November 8 at the Iba Mar Diop complex. Jana Al Sharji will compete in the women’s individual épée on November 10 at Dakar Expo in Diamniadio.

Al Sharji’s preparations include competition in Bahrain at the Asian Under-23 Fencing Championships and the Manama Épée World Cup.

Al Subhi said arrangements were in place for accommodation, transport and access to training and competition venues.

He has also been attending daily meetings with organisers and delegation heads covering transport, venue access, the opening ceremony and health and safety measures.

Athletes and officials have been advised to take precautions against mosquito bites and malaria, and to manage their exposure to high temperatures.

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