Riders of Qatar team, Saeed Nasser Al Qadi, Hamad Nasser Al Qadi, Hamad Al Attiyah, Bassem Hassan Muhammad and Rashid Twaim Al Marri.
Doha: Teams from Africa and the Middle East including hosts Qatar are set to compete for the two Olympic berths available at the Doha International Showjumping Championship that begins at the Longines Arena today.
Seven nations will be vying for the coveted places for the Paris 2024 Olympics in the Nations Cup – part of the two-day championship – set to take place at the magnificent venue that hosted the 10th Commercial Bank CHI Al Shaqab presented by Longines at the weekend.
Representing Africa in the Nations Cup will be Tokyo 2020 qualifiers Egypt and Morocco while hosts Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the UAE are the Middle East teams eyeing Olympic berths in the competition.
The 1.60m event carrying prize money of €73,000 will kick off at 1pm today followed by the second round at 2:30pm.
Qatar team in the event comprises Rashid Twaim Al Marri, Bassem Hassan Muhammad, Hamad Al Attiyah, Hamad Nasser Al Qadi and Saeed Nasser Al Qadi.
Eyeing Olympic return, the national showjumpers attended a training camp under Qatar’s long-serving coach and Global Champions Tour founder Jan Tops in the Netherlands. Qatar failed to qualify for Tokyo Olympics after finishing an impressive ninth in their Olympic debut at the Rio Games in 2018.
“The spirit is good in the Qatar squad, but they don’t have so much experience. We have a few new riders in the team. Maybe the trials are coming a bit quick. But I think we’re going to give our very best to try to make a good result,” Tops had said recently.
Qatar ready to host another major event
Ahead of the Nations Cup, the Doha International Showjumping Championship will begin with a €30,000 1.45m event. The Championship will continue with CSIO 4* events tomorrow starting with €53,000 1.45m contest while the €98,000 1.55m event set to wrap up the championship.
Qatar Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon Federation (QEMPF) is organising the two-day championship with its President Badr Al Darwish confident of staging another successful equestrian competition at Longines Arena.
“It’s an important competition as it offers Olympic spots for the participating teams and we are ready to host it in a befitting manner,” Al Darwish, who is also Chairman of the Organising Committee, said.
QEMPF Secretary General and Vice Chairman of the Organising Committee Sheikh Ahmad bin Nooh Al Thani expected exciting action during the two-day event.
“We are looking forward to a strong performance from the riders because it is a good opportunity for them to qualify for Paris 2024. We wish success to all the teams participating in the tournament,” he said.
“Qatar is used to organising major sporting events and we look forward to hosting an exceptional tournament,” Sheikh Ahmad said referring to back-to-back world class events being staged at Longines Arena including the CHI Al Shaqab and the upcoming Longines Global Champions Tour.
Meanwhile, the riders underwent a warm up session after horse inspection yesterday before the draw took place at the event’s venue.
