JEDDAH, 25 March 2007 — Saudi Arabian riders Prince Abdullah ibn Miteb, Khalid Al-Eid, Kamal Ba-Hamdan qualified for the World Cup in Las Vegas, US. The Saudis, for the third time, advanced to the April 20 world event after yet another scintillating ride in the qualifying Al-Wafaa Championship in Syria on Friday.
The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) calculate the best five scores from nine events for the top three qualifiers for the World Cup. Al-Eid, in addition, emerged the champion in Syria.
Al-Eid, after the success of the Saudis, said: “It’s true that the win in Syria was a great triumph for his country and himself, but the real thrill was in the participation and the keen contests in the event. It was a well organized championship in front of a large number of fans, and that was encouraging.”
He added, “All what we can offer now to the late rider and dear friend Basil Assad is to remember him, and to follow his footsteps in this noble sport.”
Basil is the late Syrian President Hafez Assad’s son who was an excellent rider but was tragically killed in a January 1994 car accident.
This year, with Ba-Hamdan placing third, three Saudis, for the first time, finished in the top three thus qualifying for the World Cup. Saudi riders had previously managed to qualify to the World Cup twice -- two years ago when Abdullah Al-Shurbatly made it and last year when Khalid Al-Eid qualified.
The Saudi team may not go to training camps before the World Cup, but Prince Abdullah and Ba-Hamdan will be participating at two events in Holland and Germany instead.
Al-Eid’s younger brother, Fahd, who clinched seventh and was awarded the Best Guest Equestrian Cup from Manal Assad, Honorary President for the Syrian Equestrian Federation, too participated in the Syrian round. Best Clean Play Cup went to Egyptian Usamah Al-Burai, while Best Equestrian Cup went to Syrian Shadi Ghareib.
In the championship event for youth, Saudi Abdulrahman Al-Juraisi too caught the eye by placed fourth.
