Asian Games: Oman’s Barakat makes it to 200m semifinals

Incheon: Barakat Al Harthi qualified for the 200m semifinals on an otherwise disappointing day for Omani sprinters at the Asian Games on Tuesday.

The Sultanate's star sprinter clocked 21.26 seconds to finish second in the qualifying Heat 3 to book a berth in the semifinals, which will take place on Wednesday.

A 100m bronze medallist four years ago in China, Barakat finished a disappointing seventh in the glamour event in Incheon and the qualification for the 200m semifinals provides him with an opportunity to overcome that disappointment.

However, to progress further, Barakat needs to pull up his socks and produce at least his personal best time of 20.77 seconds. The Omani ace's season's best is 20.96 seconds.

Shnoona's personal best
While Barakat made it to the semifinals, the Omani sprinters suffered disappointing results both in the men's and women's categories.

Yahya Salim Al Noufali, running in 200m qualifying Heat 3, was disqualified for a false start.

In the women's 200m first round races, Shnoona Al Habsi achieved her personal best clocking 26.12 seconds while running in Heat 2.

However, her sixth place finish in the heat was enough to take her to the next round.

Her teammate, Mazoon Khalfan Al Alawi took finished sixth in Heat 3 in a time of 25.48 seconds.

Seventh in hockey
Meanwhile, Oman hockey team had the consolation of defeating arch-rivals Bangladesh 3-2 in the seventh-place play-off.

Qasim Al Shibli, Basim Khatar and Ahmed Al Balushi were on target in Oman's victory.

Omani marksman Yasir Salim Al Nasseri scored a total of 105 points (20, 22, 22, 21, 20) to finish at 31st place in the skeet men's after two days of qualification.

While Barakat will be competing in the 200m semifinals today, the Omani quartet of Salah Al Ajmi, Othman Al Busaidi, Mubarak Saleh and Ahmed Al Marjibi will be in action in the 4x400m final on Thursday.