Rabat, 14 October 2019 - Qatar’s equestrian showjumping team clinched qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on Sunday finishing second in the Nations Cup at the Morocco Royal Tour 2019 in Rabat.
The Qatar showjumping team, which had made history in 2016 becoming the first ever Qatari equestrian team to compete at an Olympic Games, was immediately congratulated by HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad at Thani via a tweet which read ‘And we are through! Congrats to all our riders for their @tokyo2020 qualifications!
HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al Thani, President Qatar Olympic Committee also extended his good wishes to the Qatar equestrian team on their qualification.
The Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF) and Asian Equestrian Federation President Hamad Abdulrahman al Attiyah accompanied the team in Rabat. The team was also congratulated by Al Shaqab, member of Qatar Foundation. The ‘Road to Tokyo Ranking’ event of CSIO4* showjumping event which had six teams in the final saw Qatar riders claim a podium spot and eventual Tokyo 2020 qualification with a cumulative time of 239.40 and 238.45secs.
Those representing Qatar team included Sheikh Ali al Thani on his chestnut gelding Sirocco, Hamad Nasser al Qadi, riding his bay gelding SIEC Lonnie, Rashid Towaim Ali al Marri (on bay stallion Armstrong van de Kapel), and Bassem Mohammed on his favourite mount Gunder (also a bay gelding).
The team is coached by former Olympic show jumping gold medalist Jan Tops, who won gold in the team jumping event in the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.
The last two tickets of the ranking for Tokyo 2020 went to winner Egypt and second-best Arabic country Qatar. Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the UAE won’t be competing in Tokyo next year.
The Qatar team is coached by former Olympic showjumping gold medalist Jan Tops, who won gold in the team jumping event at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.
