By: Times of Oman
Muscat: Oman’s young golfers struck gold as 11-year-old Yusuf Al Rumhi claimed a historic individual gold and, alongside Taimur Al Busaidi, secured the top honours in the prestigious 2024 Under-16, Under-13, Ladies, and U-16 Ladies GCC Golf Championships, which concluded at the Ghala Golf Club on Monday.
The budding talents, led Oman to a remarkable haul of six medals at the GCC championships. The impressive achievement marked a significant milestone for the sport in the Sultanate, highlighting the progress of golf under the dynamic leadership of the Oman Golf Association (OGA).
Competing against strong teams from the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, Oman’s young stars, Yusuf and Taimur, dazzled with gold medals in the U13 category.
Yusuf, from an illustrious golfing family, continued the legacy of the Al Rumhi name.
As the son of Oman No.1 golfer Azaan Al Rumhi and grandson of a passionate golfer Mohammed Al Rumhi, Yusuf has showcased his talent from a very young age.
His impressive performance earned him the individual gold in the U-13 category with a total score of 169. Yusuf’s composure and precision not only secured him the top honour but also played a crucial role in helping Oman clinch the team gold.
He teamed with Taimur, who secured second place with a score of 174, and the duo led Oman to victory with a combined team score of 343 - comfortably ahead of Bahrain (411) and Saudi Arabia (424).
The silver lining
However, the U13 stars weren’t the only ones shining. Oman’s U-16 boys displayed exceptional skill and determination, with Adam Al Barwani earning individual silver and Pransh Jagwani securing bronze. Qatar’s Daniil Sokolov won the gold.
Adam and Pransh’s combined efforts, alongside Faris Al Busaidi, earned Oman a hard-fought team silver, with a total score of 490, just behind Qatar (480).
In a historic debut, Oman’s U-16 girls -Miraeri Sampat and Yasmin Al Kathiri - also displayed remarkable skill, securing the bronze in the team category, underscoring the country’s rising prominence in youth golf. UAE claimed the gold, followed by Saudi Arabia.
The Ladies team, consisting of Omaima Al Hajri, Ikhlas Al Waili, and Sheikha Al Ghaiti, finished fourth, with the UAE taking the title, followed by Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.