The Indoor Arena at the headquarters of the Qatar Equestrian Federation.
Doha: The hugely popular Longines Qatar Equestrian Tour Hathab series has helped the young Qatari riders improve their skills significantly since its launch in 2016, Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF) President said yesterday.
The third round of the 2020-21 season concluded successfully on Saturday with Mohammed Khalifa Albaker guiding Verona to a convincing victory in the Big Tour competition at QEF’s Indoor Arena.
Hamad bin Abdul Rahman Al Attiyah, President of QEF, said the Hathab Series - supported by the Social and Sport Contribution Fund - has done wonders for the young riding community in the country.
“Now we are into our fourth edition of the Longines Qatar Equestrian Tour Hathab series. This competition has achieved great success from the time we started this in 2016-2017 season. The riders receive great attention from their trainers, fans and family. All of this has helped in the development of their riding skills,” Al Attiyah said on the sidelines of the third round.
“The young riders participating in our competitions have shown great interest in becoming better. That was the sole reason we started this series, to get the young riders interested and in helping them achieve their dreams,” he said. “We are looking forward to the remaining rounds of the 12-round series,” he said.
“What we have seen is the riders showing interest in horses they get to ride and the horses they want for future competitions,” Al Attiyah said. “When the young riders or the seasoned ones, compete in our series, they strive to win in actual competition environment. That’s what we want,” he said. “This very attitude will help them win international events also in the future,” the QEF President said.
“Over the course of three years, we have developed young riders and discovered new talent at the same time, talent that needs more riding, more competition, more training. These young riders will go on to serve the national team in the Olympic Games and other top international events. That’s what we seek from this series,” he said. “The Longines Qatar Equestrian Tour Hathab series offers stiff competition. We seek to create an international event environment and we feel we are doing it successfully. We have technical staff of the highest calibre. We have well-drilled organizing teams that put together this fine series every year,” he said.
The QEF President said the current Longines Qatar Equestrian Tour Hathab season and the ones held in the past have allowed Qatar to develop a young women’s dressage squad capable of improving their skills further.
Al Attiyah said QEF is currently looking at increasing the number of events provided that the prevailing circumstances involving Covid-19 threat eases away. The QEF President details on the new events will be given in due course of time.
“We look to continue to host the Hathab Series as it is serving our purposely nicely. It has become one of the best conducted events in the region. The continuity has attracted sponsorship support for which are grateful to our partners,” Al Attiyah said.
Regarding the joining of hands between QEF and Al Shaqab, Al Attiyah said that the partnership now has completed four years.
He said Al Shaqab continues to invest heavily in hosting world-class events that bring in international riders who create competitions held on Qatari soil the ‘best in the world’.
“The success of four-year partnership is evident from the successes we have shared in the continuity of Longines Qatar Equestrian Tour Hathab series,” he said.
When asked about Qatar’s seasoned riders taking part in international events, Al Attiyah said the process would continue in the new season. He said Qatar’s top riders like Bassem Muhammad, Salman Al Emadi and
Hamad bin Ali Al Attiyah will continue to take part in top events held around the world including the ones that are staged at Al Shaqab Arena. He said Qatar riders will also be part of international training camps next year.
QEF will organize a long camp for its riders starting from May 2021 in the Netherlands in preparation for their participation in the Asian Equestrian Championship that will be held in China in 2022.
Al Attiyah confirmed the 2020 Amir’s Sword Festival will be held next February, the country’s richest show jumping event that attracts international riders.
“The sport of equestrian has a rich history in Qatar. We have local and international events. We have a good rider base that can go on to become international stars. We give our thanks to the wise leadership of the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Chairman H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani who back us in our endeavour to popularise the sport of equestrian,” Al Attiyah said.
“We have international trainers like Jan Tops to assist our young riders, getting them ready for competitions in Qatar and away from the country.
