(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) The presence of Mohammed Amour al Malki, Oman's legendary athlete, at the launch of the Ministry's Shield Championships on Sunday may have been a symbolic affair, given that he has always stayed away from playing a direct role in the Oman Athletics Association's (OAA) activities.
However, Sheikh Saif al Hosni, the OAA chairman, is intent on roping in Oman's only Asian Games gold medallist to popularise athletics in the country.
''He is a legend and the OAA is keen to utilise his experience for the good of the game,'' Hosni said.
''We are in talks with him and I strongly believe his involvement will serve as a catalyst for the improvement of athletics in Oman.''
Malki said that he would comment on the OAA's new initiative only after going through it in detail.
Meanwhile, Muscat Daily has learned that an ambitious Elite Athletes Programme will soon be launched by the OAA once the Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) provides financial support for it.
Hosni said, ''We intend to pick just two athletes for this programme, which will be professionally managed. In all probability, Barakat al Harthy will make the cut. The OAA is yet to decide on the second athlete; it could be a woman as well. A strict international benchmark will be set to qualify for the programme.''
The OAA chief added, ''We have embarked on a mission to make athletics the most popular sport in Oman, after football. We already have 28 clubs participating in our events. Also, we have doubled the number of domestic competitions in just a year's time."
This ongoing season, from November this year to May next year, the OAA is hosting 24 domestic events [as compared to last season's ten] that will include three championships for women.''
Hosni said, ''We have a short-term goal for Barakat - a podium finish in the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea next year. It will help him qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. However, we will also have long-term goals, for the 2020 and 2024 Olympi
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