FROM LEFT: Fahad Abdulla Al Hajri, Media and Broadcast Manager for CHI Al Shaqab, Fahad Saad Al Qahtani, Al Shaqab Director and President of CHI Al Shaqab, Omar Khalid Al Mannai, CHI Al Shaqab 2013 Director and Paul Weier, a delegate from International Equestrian Federation during the press conference at Al Shaqab yesterday.Picture by: Shaival Dalal
Doha: The first edition of CHI Al Shaqab 2013 is set to kick off here today at Al Shaqab’s state-of-the-art facilities at Qatar Foundation for Education Science and Community Development.
Thousands of spectators are expected to flock to Al Shaqab over the four days, including special attendance by members of Qatar’s Royal Family and other royal guests of honour from the GCC. The first day will feature three showjumping competitions including the first round of the Jumping CSI 5* Grand Prix, which will serve as a qualifier for the FEI World Equestrian Games to be held in Normandy, France in 2014.
Top riders, Steve Guerdat from Sweden and Gerco Schroder of the Netherlands, individual gold and silver medallists at the London 2012 Olympics, will be among the starters. “It is with great pride that I can announce the launch of CHI Al Shaqab. Hundreds of hours have gone into preparations for this event and I am proud of my team at the CHI Local Organising Committee for realizing the first step in our ambitions for Al Shaqab,” said CHI Al Shaqab Event Director Omar Al Mannai.
The event ends on March 30.
The Peninsula
