On the Scene -- Oman Flexes Muscles; Equestrian Accident; Swimming Controversies

(ATR) The host country is flexing its muscles atop the medal tally as the 2nd Asian Beach Games pass their midway point in Muscat.

Omani bodybuilders grabbed four medals over the weekend at the Qurum Amphitheater, vaulting their homeland past former table toppers China and Thailand.

Nasser al Masskari posed his way to 75kg silver, Anwar al Balushi to 80kg silver, Waleed al Hassani to 80kg bronze and Issa al Hasni to 85kg gold.

The countrymen then pledged their medals to Sultan Qaboos bin Said, whose likeness is everywhere in Oman as the country marks 40 years since he overthrew his father in a palace coup.

"I present this to His Majesty," said al Masskari, who spiced up his routine with a forward somersault. "If he wants it he can take it."

al Balushi, also Oman’s flag-bearer at Wednesday’s opening ceremony and the 2008 Arab champion, announced his retirement from the sport after Saturday’s silver.

Bodybuilding was part of the Asian Games program in 2002 and 2006 but was cut after the Doha Games due to judging controversy. The host country is clearly relishing its reemergence on the Asian Beach Games program.

Oman boasts nine medals, four of them gold, after four full days of competition in Muscat. China and Thailand are tied for second with six a piece.

Such dominance by a Games host is to be expected, say, when Beijing hosts the Summer Olympics (2008), when Vancouver hosts the Winter Olympics (February) or when Guangzhou hosts the Asian Games (November).

But this from a country that won a single medal at the inaugural Asian Beach Games held just two years ago in Bali, Indonesia.

Even luck is going the way of the Omanis this time around. The beach sepaktakraw newcomers advanced to Saturday’s semi-finals because India’s squad didn’t make the trip to Muscat, the latest in a string of last-minute withdrawals from the recent Commonwealth Games host. In a five-team field, Oman’s 0-2 record was good enough for bronze.

Title Defense in Tact

Since that single medal the last time around, a lot has changed for the little Sultanate that could. Its beach soccer team, however, is hoping nothing has.

The Omanis inched a step closer to defending their Bali gold over the weekend when they edged past Athletes from Kuwait. The 6-4 thriller again came before a packed house, little surprise considering the free tickets dished out on a first-come, first-serve basis as well as the fervor this country has for the sandy soccer variant.

Al Musannah Sports City will again see elite level action in February when top teams reconvene for the Asia Football Confederation’s qualifier to the 2011 Beach Soccer World Cup slated for September in Rome.

In the meantime, four 1-1 teams – Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Yemen and Syria – will take the field Monday, but only two will advance to Tuesday’s quarterfinals, where they will join undefeated squads from China, Iran, Japan, Bahrain, Oman and 2009 Beach Soccer World Cup host United Arab Emirates.

Accident on Horseback

Syrian tent pegger Awad Abuenen is in stable condition after falling from his horse at full-speed Sunday during the team lance competition.

The 23-year-old policeman was treated briefly at the Burkah Equestrian Grounds before an ambulance ride to Muscat, where he remained in hospital Sunday evening.

A team member said Abuenen fell while trying to avoid a water sprinkler, and his horse tumbled over him. The Syrians kept going with just three horses en route to a last-place finish.

Controversy in Open Water

Russian-born distance swimmer Yury Kudinov is forfeiting a bronze medal for following the rules of the international aquatics federation but not those of the Olympic Council of Asia.

The three-time 25km world champ finished third Thursday in the 5km event.

The only problem? He did so for Kazakhstan.

Kudinov last competed for Russia in 2008, and OCA rules dictate a three-year wait for changes of allegiance, not the two years mandated by FINA.

The waters only got murkier Sunday when Pan Kai-Wen of Chinese Taipei, already granted Kudinov’s bronze after a fourth-place finish in the 5km, came in third in the 10km but forfeited that bronze for wearing a swimsuit not approved by FINA.

Elsewhere in Muscat

Competition opened over the weekend in beach kabbadi and closed in beach waterpolo.

Still on tap are jetski sport and water ski, both of which open Tuesday.

Tajikstan became the first country without beaches to medal in these Asian Beach Games. Fittingly, Azizjon Azizov’s bronze came Saturday in bodybuilding.

With reporting in Muscat by Matthew Grayson.