Oman Women’s Basketball Team to Make Asia Cup Debut in Thailand

Muscat (ONA): The Omani Women’s National Basketball Team is set to participate for the first time in the Asia Cup, hosted by the Kingdom of Thailand from 13 to 19 July. This milestone marks a significant turning point for Omani women’s basketball and reflects the dedicated efforts of Oman Basketball Association in cultivating a generation capable of representing the Sultanate of Oman on the continental stage.

The team is currently undertaking the final phase of its preparatory programme through a training camp at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher, ahead of its departure for Thailand on 10 July.

During this period, the technical staff is intensively focused on enhancing both technical and physical readiness while reinforcing cohesion and synergy among the players prior to the commencement of the tournament.

The team’s preparatory programme has spanned approximately two years, during which a completely new squad was assembled through the identification, recruitment and comprehensive technical and physical development of players. Concurrently, the programme has instilled core principles of discipline, collective teamwork and a culture of professionalism, thereby establishing a robust foundation for the future of women’s basketball in the Sultanate of Oman.

The preparation phase incorporated participation in regional Gulf tournaments, the organization of dedicated training camps, and the arrangement of friendly fixtures, all designed to provide competitive exposure and facilitate the acquisition of international experience.

This strategy has yielded tangible improvements in the players’ technical proficiency and overall team cohesion. In recent months, the technical staff has implemented an integrated training regimen encompassing physical conditioning, technical skill development, tactical acumen, and mental and psychological preparation. Comprehensive analyses of rival teams have also been conducted, with tailored game plans devised for each encounter, building upon the intensive three-week camp that followed the conclusion of the academic examination period.

The players have demonstrated marked progress in both technical and physical performance indicators, accompanied by a strengthening of team spirit and discipline—factors that collectively enhance the squad’s readiness for its inaugural official appearance on the Asian stage.

The team delegation will be headed by Hiba Khlfan Al Na’ebi, with the administrative and technical support staff comprising Nasra Salim Al Harthy as Team Administrator, Wafa Zaghdoud as Head Coach, Nidal Majid Al Mughairi as Assistant Coach, and Maryam Mohammed Al Mahrooqi as Physiotherapist.

The squad roster features the following players: Noor Ahmed Al Kharusi, Zeina Louay Battash, Malak Sulaiman Al Salimi, Aisha Husam Al Yafi, Zainab Khalifa Al Busaidi, Asila Yasser, HH Sayyida Lamar Mohammed Al Said, Asma Fahmi Al Harmali, Alisar Nasser Al Taee, Mithaa Fahd Al Maawali, Alaya Said Al Habsi and Mayar Said Al Maskari. This historic debut represents the commencement of a strategic long-term project aimed at cementing the presence of Omani women’s basketball on the continental stage and developing a national team endowed with a distinct technical identity capable of competing in future tournaments and qualifying events.