MUSCAT: Omani sprinter Ali Anwar al Balushi has secured his place in the 20th World Athletics Indoor Championship, set to take place from March 21 to 23 in Nanjing, China. This achievement comes after a standout performance at the Meeting de Paris Indoor event, which is part of the World Indoor Athletics (Tour Silver). During the event on February 9, Balushi won gold in the Men’s 60m race, clocking a remarkable time of 6.53 seconds.
National coach Fahad al Mashaykhi praised Balushi’s performance, acknowledging the challenges faced in the lead-up to this qualification. According to Mashaykhi, Balushi’s impressive performance came after intense training. “Earlier in his career, there were some technical weaknesses in his performance. These were addressed through dedicated and focused training, leading to this successful result,” Mashaykhi said.
In January, Balushi had already made an impact at the Astana Indoor Meet in Kazakhstan. He earned a silver medal in the Men’s 60m event, finishing with a time of 6.60 seconds. This strong performance not only boosted his confidence but also secured him a spot in the prestigious golden category of the competition.
Balushi’s consistent participation in international events shows his commitment to improving his global ranking. His dedication to his sport is further exemplified by his recent successes and his focus on future major competitions.
Looking ahead, coach Fahad al Mashaykhi emphasized the importance of continued preparation for the upcoming World Athletics Indoor Championship and the World Athletics Championships later in September in Japan. The team is planning an internal training camp in Oman to help Balushi fine-tune his performance and ensure he is ready to compete at the highest level.
