(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
DOHA: The Longines Qatar Equestrian Tour Hathab Series - now into its fourth edition - is making a positive impact on the young riders in the country, Event Director Ali Al Rumaihi said.
The 12-round show jumping series has allowed young Qatari riders to take active part in the annual championship, paving way for Qatar to add to its rider-base.
'We are happy with the way young riders are getting the exposure, Al Rumaihi said.
'Right now we are into the fourth season and the number of riders every round keeps increasing, the 39-year-old Qatari Olympian added.
'The competitions at Al Shaqab provide excellent conditions to these riders. Their improved performances are a result of the riders getting competitive exposure at a young age, Al Rumaihi said.
'We allow each rider to register six horses in the Small, Medium and Big Tour competitions. The young riders also get coaching at our training centres from qualified coaches engaged by Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF) and Al Shaqab, he added.
Al Rumaihi said Qatar welcomes the participation from overseas entries that have contested from Kuwait and Kyrgyzstan. The former Qatari rider thanked QEF and Asian Equestrian Federation (AEF) President Hamad Abdul Rahman Al Attiyah, Omar Al Manai, Vice-President of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), and Badr Al Darwish, a member of the LOC, for the setting up ‘an environment of excellence' for the young riders of the country.
Al Rumaihi said the next round of the Longines Qatar Equestrian Tour Hathab Series will be held from January 16 to 18. The experienced Qatari rider said he remained eager to return to regular training.
Al Rumaihi said riding is in his blood as his father was also into show jumping for many years. He said he had taken a sabbatical from the sport to regain total fitness following an injury. 'In the last few years I have been busy with my roles at QEF and during the course of setting up and running the Hathab Series. My busy schedules kept me away from show jumping, Al Rumaihi said.
'I couldn't give time to training by now I am eager to feature in international competitions again, he added.
Ali Al Rumaihi took up riding aged eight and comes from a family that was already involved in equestrian sport, so show jumping was a natural fit. His brother, Mubarak, also competes in international equestrian competitions.
He began competing internationally in 2006 when in his first major championship he won an Individual Gold Medal at the Asian Games.
Ali has since featured in two Pan Arab Games, and the 2010 Asian Games and World Championships. In 2011, he won the Individual Gold and the Team Bronze medal at the Pan Arab Games in Doha in his home country of Qatar.
Al Rumaihi also featured in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
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