Abu Dhabi (Aletihad)
Emirati equestrian rider Omar Al Marzooqi has successfully qualified for the final stage of the individual show jumping event at the 33rd Olympics in the French capital of Paris.
Abu Dhabi-based Al Marzooqi and two of his compatriots were lined up among 75 riders at the start of the competition on Monday afternoon at the quadrennial showpiece Summer Games, which is ongoing until August 11.
Al Marzooqi, the UAE flagbearer at the opening ceremony on July 26 along with woman cyclist Safia Al Sayegh, had just a single fault and completed his qualifying round with a time of 79.56 seconds, securing the 21st ranking. The best 30 riders have advanced to the final round, which will be held on Tuesday.
Among the other national team riders, Abdullah Al Marri had to withdraw to preserve his horse in a disappointing twist of fate, while Salem Al Suwaidi was among the early starters on the Palace of Versailles course and finished with 16 faults in a time of 76.42 seconds.
The show jumping discipline is the last source of medal hope at the Olympics, which has had more than 10,500 athletes vying for glory in France. The UAE is represented by 14 athletes competing in five different sports: equestrian, judo, athletics, cycling, and swimming.
On Sunday, the UAE's show jumping riders completed the training round, with each rider having 90 seconds to complete eight obstacles, and the horses successfully passed the veterinary inspection.
Meanwhile, Faris Mohammed Al Mutawa, Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee (NOC), along with Mansour Buosaiba, President of the UAE Cycling Federation and other NOC officials, received Michel Callot, President of the French Cycling Federation, and his troupe at the UAE Olympic House in Paris.
Members of the UAE Team Emirates cycling team also attended the meeting, where matters of cooperation in technical and training matters were discussed. Talks also covered the development of the sport in recent years, and the athletes' progress in the Paris Olympics, including Al Sayegh, the first Emirati and Gulf cyclist to qualify on the Olympic stage.
Both groups exchanged views about cycling events in their countries, such as the UAE Tour, which sees the participation of 140 riders worldwide, and the Sharjah International Cycling Tour, which had 168 riders from 21 countries recently. They also discussed the Tour de France, where the UAE Team Emirates' Tadej Pogacar won the yellow jersey and the overall title.
After the meeting, the Team Emirates squad and the French delegation toured the UAE Olympic House, expressing delight at the journey that showcases the rich heritage and culture of the UAE.