Oman Women’s Basketball Team to Compete in Asia Cup for First
Time

Muscat, 6 July 2026 (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.

— Ends/AH