The sailors include Zakariya Al Wahaibi, who was crowned Oman’s first ever Optimist Champion when he won the Oman Optimist Championship in Sur last month and 12 year-old Samiha Al Riyami, the youngest ever athlete to represent the Sultanate at the Asian Games and the only female participant at the Oman Championship.

Both have earned their spurs in the Optimist class, at national and international competitions across the region but their participation at Incheon will give the sailors exposure on how teams from other nations are progressing in sailing.

Windsurfer Waleed Al Kendi who spent much of his summer in Europe competing in international events is also heading out to Korea along with Ahmed Al Hassani, who is campaigning his Laser Standard and Hobie 16 sailors Akram Al Wahaibi and Ahmed Al Bulushi. The six strong sailing team are part of Oman’s biggest ever team at an Asian Games with 145 participants.

The sailors will be coached by a number of Oman Sail coaches including Abdulaziz Al Shidi, Koray Ezer and Allen Coutts. The coaching team is charged with the task of equipping the sailors with an athletic mind-set to compete effectively at international competitions and inspire them to push themselves to achieve and accomplish at this higher level.

“This is a great opportunity for these sailors, especially the youngsters to learn more about what it takes to succeed in international competition,” said Rashid Al Kindi, Oman Sail's National Team Manager and Chairman of Oman Sailing Committee. “Some of them are quite young but they have been selected for good reason: they are the most talented sailors in Oman and we want them to network and learn from the athletes from other nations – and their coaches – to see how they can make improvements to their own performances. On behalf of Oman Sail, I would like to thank the Oman Olympic Committee for supporting us and providing us with the opportunity to represent our country through our sailors”

The Asian Games start on September 20th and continue through 16 days to October 1st. The sailing competition is based at Wangsan Marina in Incheon and will determine Asia’s champions in the 29er, 420 (Youth) 470, Hobie 16, J80, Laser, Mistral, Optimist (Youth), RS:One and RS:X classes.