Muscat, Oman, March 31, 2021: The eyes of the world sailing community will be on Mussanah, Oman this weekend as 102 competitors from 16 countries across Asia and Africa look to seal their spot at this summer’s Tokyo Olympics.
The four-day Al Mussanah Open Sail Championship, which gets underway on Thursday, April 1, offers a final opportunity for male and female sailors to qualify for the Olympics in the Laser, Laser Radial, 49er, 49erFX and RS:X sailing and windsurfing classes.
Hosts Oman will pin their Olympic hopes on 49er sailors Musab Al Hadi, Waleed Al Kindi, Abdul Rahman Al Mashari and Ahmed Al Hasni. The quartet will be hoping to book their berths with strong performances on home waters.
Rashid Al Kindi, Oman Sail’s Director of Sailing, said: “This is an incredibly important event in the sailing calendar and we’re looking forward to a week of intensely competitive sailing. Oman’s own national team is competing and, in what has been a disrupted season, we need to perform at our very best to reach the Olympics.
“For nearly five years we have been building towards this moment and having the opportunity to compete for a medal in sailing. The Mussanah Open Championship is a chance to realise our dreams on the water and polish our performances against a high calibre of international sailors before travelling to Japan.”
Al Kindi added: “We have created a COVID-safe environment for all athletes and delegates with strict measures in place to ensure the safety of everyone. We are grateful to the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Youth, and the Oman Olympic Committee for their continued support."
Source: Times of Oman
