Doha: Preparations are underway for the Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF) to participate in the equestrian competitions at the 20th Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026, scheduled to take place in Japan from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4, with a collection of homegrown Qatari riders taking part in show jumping, dressage, and eventing.
According to Qatar News Agency, the team's goal is to achieve feats that demonstrate QEF's evolving development and ultimately strengthen its presence at continental and international venues. Qatar will compete in three main equestrian disciplines-dressage, eventing, and show jumping-with four riders in each discipline, while the overall number of participating horses is 10. The horses have been selected and prepared to meet the demands and technical level of the contests.
The Qatari participation is part of the ongoing preparations for the national teams, with the QEF having worked to prepare the riders and horses in accordance with a comprehensive preparation program. This aims to ensure the competitors arrive at the events in the best technical and physical condition, benefiting from the accumulated experience of the Qatari riders through their continental and international appearances.
The Qatari delegation in the equestrian competitions includes more than 10 riders distributed across the three teams. They have undergone intensive preparations during the past period, including training camps throughout the summer focused on improving their technical and physical readiness, adapting to the atmosphere and demands of competition in preparation for the much-anticipated Asian event.
Prominent names leading the show-jumping team include Sheikh Ali bin Khalid Al-Thani, Sheikh Fahad bin Jassim Al-Thani, Faleh Suwaid Al Ajmi, and Bassem Mohammed. Jassim Jham Al Kuwari and Saoud Ahmed Al Buainain will represent Qatar in dressage. The eventing team comprises Mohammed Jaber Al Nuaimi, Abdulaziz Ahmed Al Muhannadi, Mohammed Salem Al Marri, and Mohammed Nasser Al Qadi, competing in an event that combines dressage, cross-country, and jumping.
The equestrian competitions are slated to begin on Sept. 21 with dressage, followed by cross-country on Sept. 22, and concluding with jumping on Sept. 23. The dressage competition continues with its decisive stages from Sept. 25 to 27, while the much-anticipated show-jumping competition will take place from Oct. 1 to 4.
Qatar's participation in these competitions reflects the level of attention equestrian sport receives in the country, boasting a pool of experienced riders with international appearances and extensive preparation through summer training camps. These games represent an important milestone for Qatar's riders to test their abilities against a select group of competitors at the Asian level and gain exposure to advanced technical levels, further developing Qatari equestrian sport and preparing for upcoming events.
President of the Qatar Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon Federation, Badr bin Mohammed Al Darwish, emphasized the importance of this participation, noting the efforts made by QEF to provide optimal preparation conditions for the riders. Al Darwish expressed confidence in the abilities of the riders, highlighting their experience and capabilities to deliver strong performances.
Lastly, Al Darwish emphasized an all-hands-on-deck approach among the riders and staff to achieve the intended goals, hoping to see a participation that will usher in a new chapter of achievements for Qatar on the Asian and global stages. Qatar's participation in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games features a delegation of 243 athletes participating in 26 sports and 32 disciplines, demonstrating the broad scope of its involvement in this major continental event.
Source: Qatar News Agency
