FROM LEFT: Qatari rider Sheikh Ali bin Khalid Al Thani, Al Shaqab Commercial Manager and the Event Director Omar Al Mannai, Founder and President of Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) Jan Tops, Media and Broadcast Director at Al Shaqab, Fahad Abdulla A
Qatar’s top rider Sheikh Ali bin Khalid Al Thani yesterday said he is focused on delivering an improved performance at this week’s Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) opener in Doha, saying participating at international events helps build momentum for him and his horses.
The LGCT season opener will be held from February 28-March 2 at Al Shaqab Arena.
“This event is very famous and tough. It includes the world’s best riders. Participating in this allows us to compete better at the highest level,” Sheikh Ali said yesterday.
“We can’t assess ourselves if we don’t compete in this event or at international events. In our team (Doha Falcons) we have six riders. We wanted to improve our team so we got more overseas riders for this season,” Sheikh Ali, who featured at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, added.
“Last year we had one foreign rider and now we have more than one. It is not possible to participate in so many events. We need to have the team experience and it is important to have the right team spirit also,” Sheikh Ali pointed out.
Sheikh Ali is part of the Doha Falcons team that will feature in the Global Champions League (GCL) with Great Britain’s Michael Whitaker, Dutch star Jur Vrieling, Slovakia’s Bronislav Chudyba and Japan’s U-25 rider Mike Kawai.
For this week’s individual competitions, Sheikh Ali will join the 2017 LGCT Grand Prix winner in Doha Bassem Mohammed as the Qatari duo launches the new season with hopes of carrying out the good early momentum through the season.
“We will work hard in order to be the best. Our objective is to be among the best. We already have a calendar of six months in front of us. We have to look at the horses. The events we have to look at are also important. These are important weeks and months. We have to be physically fit to take the workload,” Sheikh Ali said.
“We have good horses. We have trainers who have laid out a comprehensive plan. We know which horse goes where. We choose the best ones at the right time. This will be our second time at Olympic qualifications. We are making every bit of preparation from our side,” he added.
Omar Al Mannai, the Event Director and Commercial Manager at Al Shaqab, said Qatar’s becoming ‘second home’ to riders who will also feature at the CHI Al Shaqab from Mar 7-9.
“I say welcome to our guests which also includes the future riders who are also here. This is the second home of the show jumping family around the world. This event represents a key component of Qatar 2030 Vision,” Al Mannai said.
“Qatar is the sports hub of this region. The sports infrastructure available in the country is truly world-class. We have to show our abilities to host top class events regularly. We feel Qatar has to play it’s part in international arena by hosting such equestrian events,” Al Mannai added.
“We know the 2022 FIFA World Cup will also be held in Qatar. All of this will present Qatar as a sporting destination in the world. This event is one of the best in the world,” he added.
Al Mannai said Sheikh Ali represented the best in show jumping for young riders to follow.
“Sheikh Ali is a role model for young riders in Qatar and the region. We wish him success this week and later in the year. He contributes in helping us form a good group of riders,” Al Mannai said.
“We have training camps around the world. This is an exceptional year. We have two back-to-back events at Al Shaqab. It is not an easy thing. We will try to seize this opportunity to take the sport forward. We have participation from the communities living in Qatar.
“We also have public events during this week. We will have official meetings in the coming 10 days. All of this will highlight our efforts that we are exerting. The seasoned and junior riders will have a busy time,” Al Mannai said.
“Besides the international events, we also have local events planned - continuation of the local season. These events have helped them improve the skills of young Qatari riders. There will also be training sessions for young riders under the supervision of other riders.
“Being with the top riders is the best way to learn. It is of great benefit to all. There are training sessions supervised by best riders. They have to be committed and disciplined. Sportsmanship has to be followed as a system. It is a lifestyle on the field of play,” Al Mannai added.
“We are happy to host the first tour of the LGCT season. We are hoping to extend the contract. We will have more details soon,” he said.
