Paris: The UAE National Show Jumping Team is ready to take on the best as they compete in the individual event at the Palace of Versailles on Monday.
The individual competition will see the participation of 75 riders, with the top 30 advancing to the final stage based on the number of faults and recorded times.
The UAE’s showjumping riders completed the training round in preparation for the competition, with each rider having 90 seconds to complete eight obstacles, and the horses successfully passed the veterinary inspection. Sultan Mohammed Al Yahyai, Board Member of the Emirates Equestrian and Racing Federation, Head of the Show Jumping Committee, and President of the Seventh Regional Group in the International Equestrian Federation, said the UAE riders’ participation in the Paris Olympics represents a milestone in the UAE’s equestrian and showjumping journey.
Al Yahyai underscored the Board of Directors’ commitment, under the leadership of Major General Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi, to adopt numerous ambitious programmes to enhance the capabilities of Emiratis and qualify them to raise the UAE flag in international events. This includes widening the base of participants in showjumping through training programmes and collaboration with clubs in all initiatives supporting the sport’s development.
Female riders
Regarding the preparation of female riders for international show jumping competitions, Al Yahyai said, “Emirati women receive top attention within the Federation’s developmental programmes, providing opportunities to develop their capabilities in show jumping and other sports, driven by our strong belief in their high skills and ambitions that have led them to face many challenges in various equestrian sports. We hope to see generations of [female] champions in showjumping.”
The UAE is represented by 14 athletes competing in five different sports: equestrian, judo, athletics, cycling, and swimming.
