CAIRO, 14 November 2007 — Saudi riders gave the Kingdom their first gold medal after two days of action in the 11th Pan Arab Games by winning the show jumping team event yesterday.
Swimmer Yousif Al-Yousif and archer Turki Al-Derby won bronze medal in the 200-meter backstroke and silver in the individual archery competition at the Wadi Degla Club to round out a fruitful day for Saudi Arabia.
A full complement of 550 athletes banner the Saudi participation in 26 of 32 sport disciplines in the two-week blue-riband event being staged in the seven Egyptian cities of Cairo, Alexandria, Asyout, Aswan, Esmaiilia, North Sinai, and Portsaiid.
“Because my nation always comes first I begged off from the Malaysia International Equestrian Championship and came here to do my best and offer my country something that would make them happy,” said Prince Abdullah ibn Miteb after the awards ceremony for equestrian team event.
Led by Prince Abdullah, the Saudi riders met the expectations when they won the gold medal with 12.44 demerit points, followed by Egypt in second place with 34. 72 points and Syria in third with 25.72 points.
Abdullah Al-Sharbatly and Prince Abdullah boosted hopes of another equestrian gold when they finished 1-2 after the second day yesterday of the individual three-day event that attracted more than 30 competitors. Their teammate Ramzi Al-Duhami was the leader on the first day.
Youthful Prince Faisal Al-Shalan came third with Al-Duhami fifth yesterday in the event that continues tomorrow. “This success was achieved after continuous training for more than a year in which we underwent training camps and competitions. We are also thankful for the support of our Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah,” said Prince Abdullah.
Prince Abdullah said a minor hitch occurred before the event kicked off when their horses were held at the Alexandria airport due to certain governmental and security procedures.
“It happened to many teams here and it sure affected conditions of our horses but thank God again we had our doctors who managed to prepare our horses and have them ready. But Al-Duhami’s horse was affected badly though.”
Al-Shalan expressed his joy after the announcement of the results. “Thank God the two rounds we did at the Arab League here in Egypt before this event gave us the chance to watch and observe the other riders and their horses and it was like a training camp too,” he said.
He said the Arab League has put their preparations on track and ready to compete against such formidable teams as Egypt and the Syria.
According to Al-Shalan the only obstacle he faced was when he was forced to ride a third replacement horse after his two horses were injured. “However, it was good and we are glad with our results which gave us the lead in the competition,” he said. Another Saudi swimmer, Bader Al-Muhana, in the 100-m butterfly failed in his bid for a medal as did Yassir Ayyad, one of two judokas on the team, who settled for fifth place in the -73kgs. after being beaten in a bronze medal bout by an Algerian.
