FROM LEFT: Mohammed Saadon Al Kuwari, beIN Sports presenter; Abdullah Al Khater, Events Manager at AZF; Nasser Abdullah Al Hajri, Director of PR and Communications at AZF; Qatari Olympic Champion, Mutaz Essa Barshim; and Khalid Saadoun Al Kuwari, Co-Orga
DOHA: More than 200 participants are set to take part in second edition of Esrar Race 2018 scheduled to be held on March 23 and 24 in Aspire Park.
Qatar’s Olympic Champion and IAAF Athlete of the Year, Mutaz Barshim, who is one of Esrar’s honourary ambassadors; renowned local presenter Mohammed Saadoun Al Kuwari, who returns this year as a participant in the race; Nasser Abdullah Al Hajri, Director of PR and Communications at AZF; Abdullah Aman Al Khater, Director of Events and Venues of AZF; Al Anoud Al Misnad, Acting Head of Events at AZF; and Khalid Saadoun Al Kuwari, CEO of Diverse Sports Management Company attended the press conference yesterday at Torch Hotel.
Talking to The Peninsula, Khalid Saadoun Al Kuwari, said: “This year we are back with two categories; individual and team. Individual race is of 5km with 21 obstacles whereas team will run separately and top 16 teams will qualify for the second day race. Second day race will be of 200m with eight obstacles.
“Last year, we had only individual race but this time teams are participating as well. There should be three members in the team and it is mix - both men and women. Anyone can participate above 18 years old.”
On winning prizes, he said: “Wining prizes for individual participants - men and women - are, $1500 for first position, $1000 for second position and $500 for third position. In team category, we have $3000 for the first position, $2000 for second position and $1000 for third position.”
AZF displayed a video that recapped on Qatar’s first Esrar Race (‘Esrar’ means ‘determination’ in Arabic), which was held in March last year and involved more than 250 local and regional professional and amateur sports enthusiasts from Qatar and the region.
Abdullah Aman Al Khater, Director of Events and Venues of AZF, said: “The Esrar Race 2018 has generated an increase in popularity among sports enthusiasts from within and outside Qatar, especially in the region.”
“This year, ten Kuwaiti registered participants will travel to Doha to take part in the race. More than 180 participants will take part in the individual races, consisting of 144 men, 36 women, 90 of whom are Qataris.
“Meanwhile, 36 participants will take part in the relay teams races. Amad Al-Hosni, the national Omani footballer who currently plays for Fanja FC, will participate in the Esrar Race as an honourary ambassador along with our local Olympic champion, Mutaz Barshim.”
“AZF has also increased the number of obstacle courses from 14 to 21 this year, which will be set up along a distance of five kilometres in Aspire Park. All obstacles were designed and built in-house by AZF’s logistics team.
“Some materials used were originally purchased for the Asian Games 2006, demonstrating AZF’s commitment to extending the legacy of the games for more than a decade,” Al Khater added.
“I was present as an honourary ambassador during the first Esrar Race last year. This year, I am going to take part as one of the participants. This year’s race has seen an increase in the number of participants, duration and obstacles.
“The race shouldn’t only be about winning, because every participant is a winner. It should be about having fun and doing something people love to do,” said Qatar’s Olympic Champion, Mutaz Barshim.
Rashed Al Qurese, Chief Marketing & Promotion Officer at QTA, said: “QTA is proud to support Esrar as it works to develop and position itself on the regional sports and fitness calendars and contribute to the growing sports tourism sub-sector in Qatar.” Interested participants can find out more details on the ‘Life in Aspire” website
