The hugely popular Hathab Show Jumping Series - now in its second season - is proving to be a big success for the young Qatari riders, Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF) President Hamad Abdulrahman Al Attiyah (pictured) said yesterday.
Hundreds of young Qatari riders feature in this seven-month long show jumping and dressage series launched by the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Chairman H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani to assist young riders learn the ropes by competing against the senior pros.
The Hathab Series will see action in the 9th round of the 2018-19 season when the CHI Al Shaqab is held from Mar 7 to 9.
“The Hathab Series is helping us achieve our goals. It is giving clear competition to the young riders and tapping their passion. We are getting new horses. This helps the system in achieving our long-term goals,” Al Attiyah, who is the President of the Asian Equestrian Federation (QEF) also, said yesterday.
“We are happy to see the commitment of our young riders. They are learning with each round in Hathab Series,” Al Attiyah said.
“It is the young riders who will benefit from this series. Our senior riders have gone ahead a great deal,” he said.
“Qatar has to thank the Father Amir, H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani for taking this sport forward. Al Shaqab was created for this purpose, to host events and to create new riders. I also thank the QOC Chairman H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani for launching the Hathab Series. We are delighted to see the progress made by young riders,” the QEF President said.
Qatar riders made their debut at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Since then Qatari riders Bassem Mohammed has won LGCT events notably the Grand Prix at Al Shaqab in November 2017. Qatar’s Sheikh Ali bin Khalid Al Thani has won medals at the Asian Games besides featuring regularly on the international stage.
Al Attiyah yesterday had a word of caution for the young Qatari riders. He said: “First of all, the young riders need discipline before participating at big events. We have to focus on show jumping. We are training young boys and girls. We started the Hathab series last year. There is a willingness to help the new riders. We are also conducting training camps.”
Al Attiyah said Doha will stage the QEF General Assembly this week with a series of meetings set on the agenda for discussions.
“This year is a unique year for Asian body as we will be staging the General Assembly this week. At the same time, we will have world’s best riders competing at CHI Al Shaqab. We thank Al Shaqab for their close cooperation administratively and otherwise also,” Al Attiyah said.
“The meeting of the Asian Equestrian Federation, which is happening along the sidelines of CHI Al Shaqab is a very important addition to the agenda, as the elections will be held for the important positions such as that of President and Vice President.
“The close cooperation between the Qatar Equestrian Federation and Asian Equestrian Federation (AEF) is also very important. While our senior riders have come a long way, the upcoming young riders will benefit greatly from this partnership.
“The goal of the Federation is to train young boys and girls to the highest possible level of horse riding. We are also looking to support them financially and provide training camps. In addition to show jumping, we aim to train our young riders in the discipline of dressage – a discipline that follows a certain rhythm - as it is quite popular at the Asian Federation level.”
“There are important agendas to be dealt today. The presidential elections will held this week,” Al Attiyah, who will contest for a fresh four-year term, said.
Badr Al Darwish, the Secretary General of both the QEF and the AEF, is also standing for re-election at the General Assembly in Doha this week. Al Darwish said yesterday: “As Doha will host the AEF General Assembly at Al Shaqab, it will be the focus of Asian equestrian sport.”
