CHI Al Shaqab set to stage equestrian extravaganza
Doha: The stage is set for the highly anticipated CHI Al Shaqab as the 11th edition of the prestigious event will be held from tomorrow until Saturday at the state-of-the-art facility Al Shaqab. It promises to be another thrilling chapter in the history of the CHI Al Shaqab as 189 riders from 37 countries will take part in the Olympic equestrian disciplines of Showjumping, Dressage and Para-Dressage.
As a prominent fixture in the equestrian sports calendar, CHI Al Shaqab stands out as one of the five exclusive CHI-accredited events globally, offering a platform for elite athletes from the regional and international scene to demonstrate their exceptional skills.
This year, the new addition apart from the CSI1*, CSI2* and CSI3* competitions is the introduction of the Concours de Saut International Children (CSICH) which will be a qualifier for children competing in the Group VII (Mena Region), the finals of which are set to take place later this year in Cairo, Egypt.
In the showjumping, top four past champions will be vying for the glory again with their eyes firmly perched on winning the CSI5* Grand Prix, which carries a total prize money of €410,000.
Two-time defending champion Marcus Ehning of Germany, along with Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander (2015 champion), Belgian rider Pieter Devos (2019) and Germany’s Christian Ahlmann (2021) will be aiming to emerge victorious in the marquee event. Germany is sending out a big delegation. Apart from Ehning and Ahlmann, the other German riders – Marco Kutscher, Christian Kukuk, Sophie Hinners, Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann and Philipp Schulze Topphoff have all entered to compete in Doha.
They will be joined by big names such as legendary John Whitaker (Britain), former world number one Simon Delestre (France), as well as Malin Baryard-Johnsson (Sweden), Max Kuhner (Austria), Amber Fullre (Australia) and Maikel van der Vleute (Netherlands).
Representing Qatar in CSI5* showjumping will be Rashid al-Marri, Ahmed Mohamed al-Badi and Sheikh Khalifa al-Thani. Apart from the trio, there are also close to 50 riders and 70 horses, who will participate in other classes.
However, the home nation will have no representation in the Five-star event of the dressage as trailblazer Wejdan Majed al-Malki is training her new horse. “Last year Wejdan did extremely well at CHI Al Shaqab. But she won’t be able to compete this year as she is training her new horse. Unlike showjumping, it takes time for horses to be trained in dressage to compete at the high level. But Wejdan will be there to support other local riders,” said Discipline Manager Alejandro Berdegue, who also revealed that the latest timing technology will be introduced in the championship this year.
The Para-Dressage, which epitomises what can be achieved by physically impaired athletes, will be one discipline to look forward to, with the FEI World No. 3 and the 2023 champion Kate Shoemaker of the USA firm favourite.
Al Shaqab’s Event Director Mohamed al-Khayarin at a press conference on Tuesday said the objective of CHI Al Shaqab has always been to support the equestrian in the country and provide more opportunities for Qatari riders to gain experience and develop their skills.
“With every passing year and the success that follows, CHI Al Shaqab has become a pinnacle in the global equestrian landscape. We have been drawing the best riders and the most elite horses from all over the world, to come together and take part in true equestrian sportsmanship. We are proud to embody a standard of excellence that further propels Al Shaqab in its mission to enrich Qatar’s rich equestrian heritage,” he said.
“Of course, it goes without saying that the planning and logistics behind this event has been no ordinary feat. I am grateful to everyone who was a driving force behind the 2024 edition, and we look forward to having everyone attend CHI Al Shaqab,” al-Khayarin added.
The Al Shaqab’s Event Director also expected more than 8,000 people to attend the three-day championship, with many attractions on offer for families. There will dedicated Festival Area which will offer high-quality food and beverage stands, in addition to a wide range of cultural, educational and entertainment activities suitable for all the family: pony rides, carnival games, arts & crafts, face painting, puppet shows, a clown duo, children’s contests, magic shows, and much more.
Share this News
Google
Apple
Facebook