Oman’s Dawood Al Yousfi Wins Silver at World Taekwondo Junior Championships

Omani Taekwondo Talent Dawood Al Yousfi Claims Silver in Tashkent

Dawood Al Yousfi’s World Youth Taekwondo Silver Reflects Growing Success of Omani Sport

Muscat: Omani sport continues to strengthen its presence at regional and international events, supported by the efforts of young athletes who are achieving notable results across various disciplines.

Among the emerging talents is national taekwondo athlete Dawood Al Yousfi, who won the silver medal in the 48kg category at the World Taekwondo Junior Championships held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, after delivering strong performances against a number of leading international competitors.

Al Yousfi told Oman News Agency (ONA) that his journey in taekwondo began at the age of eight after trying several sports. He said the sport attracted him due to its unique style, discipline, and competitive nature.

He noted that his father, national coach Fahd Al Yousfi, played a key role in guiding his development through structured training programmes and participation in international competitions, helping him enhance his technical, physical, and mental abilities.

Al Yousfi explained that one of the main challenges during his early career was competing against more experienced athletes. Despite this, he reached the final of his first international tournament and secured second place, providing an early indication of his potential.

Speaking about the World JuniorChampionships, he said he competed in a higher weight category than originally planned due to physical growth, requiring additional preparation to face taller and stronger opponents. He added that he successfully adapted to these challenges and advanced to the final.

The tournament featured strong competition, with Al Yousfi facing athletes from Egypt, Russia, China, Chinese Taipei, and Kazakhstan. He attributed his success to thorough preparation, tactical flexibility, physical fitness, and mental focus.

Al Yousfi described the silver medal as an important milestone in his sporting career, particularly after winning silver at the World Junior Championships last year. He said the achievement motivates him to pursue gold medals at future world championships and the Olympic Games.

He highlighted that taekwondo requires speed, flexibility, strength, concentration, and commitment to training, nutrition, and recovery. His training programme includes two daily sessions lasting between one and one-and-a-half hours, with intensity increasing ahead of major competitions.

Al Yousfi emphasized the importance of trust between athletes and coaches, noting that effective cooperation contributes significantly to performance and results. He also praised the support of his family, describing it as a key factor behind his progress and achievements.

He said sport plays an important role in building self-confidence, discipline, leadership skills, and respect for others, encouraging young people to pursue sports that match their abilities and to develop their talents through dedication and continuous effort.

Looking ahead, Al Yousfi said his ambitions include winning gold at future world championships and securing an Olympic medal for the Sultanate of Oman.

He added that taekwondo in Oman is witnessing steady growth and expressed hope for continued support and planning to help national athletes achieve further success on the international stage.