(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) People flocked in thousands, be it next to the tracks or perched atop mountains or in dhows. Amid a spectacular setting of mountains and sea, the first International Women's Tent Pegging Championship began in Khasab on Friday.
The three-day championship, organised by the Muscat-based International Tent Pegging Federation (ITPF), saw riders from six nations including Oman, compete in three events on the opening day that concluded with the South African team emerging on top with 142 points.
Australia came second with 132.5 while Egypt took the third spot with 126. Hosts Oman and Sudan were tied on 96.5 while Jordan was last with 71.
While there was no shortage of thrill and the competitive spirit among the participants, who ranged from a dentist to a farmer to a student, it was the initiative of the ITPF chairman, Mohammed Issa al Fairuz, to select Khasab in the Musandam Governorate as the venue that earned allround applause.
The Oman riders lead the march past on the opening day in Khasab on Friday
H E Dr Suad bint Mohammed al Lawati, vice-chairperson, State Council, was the guest of honour on the opening day. Delighted at the performance of the riders and the location, she told Muscat Daily, 'It is such a wonderful sport and the setting of the event is spectacular. It is a good effort by the ITPF to not only promote sport but also tourism in Oman.
'Sports tourism is Oman needs such initiatives and more of such events will give a boost to rich tourism potential of the sultanate.'
Besides organising the world-class event, the ITPF also has tourism promotion at its heart as the venue had a counter from the Ministry of Tourism with free distribution of brochures and CDs on the
Musandam governorate's tourism potential. An handicraft exhibition was also inaugurated.
Also in an encouraging development, there was a sizeable turnout of local women spectators to cheer the riders.
Georgie Jansen van Rensburg, a member of the gold-medal South African team on the first day, was struck by the beauty of the location and the large gathering that had people watching from the top of mountains that provided a 'lovely backdrop' to the start of the races.
'It is such an amazing venue. We are happy to have finished day one on top. It is great to be part of the first-ever all-women's international tent pegging championship. I am excited to see the sport getting stronger. Women have been usually competing along with men in tent pegging for many years but for the ITPF to organise an all-women event definitely puts more focus on us,' said Georgie.
H E Dr Suad al Lawati presenting the gold medal to a South African rider
Oman is being represented by Turkia al Balushi, Fatima al Balushi, Shaima al Hattali and Mazoon al Ghabshi and Bashayer al Balushi. Coached by national men's team rider Hilal al Balushi, the team certainly earned the loudest cheer. Despite missing the podium, the coach was satisfied. He said, 'It was the first day and though the girls improved in the later stages, it was not enough. We hope to improve over the next two days.'
The first day witnessed individual lance and peg, doubles and team events. The next two days will have sword and lemon, lance and ring and the Indian File on the final day on Sunday.
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