Abu Dhabi (Aletihad)
UAE's upcoming equestrian rider Omar Al Marzooqi finished his Olympic campaign in Paris with a creditable top-20 performance given his age, as he showed great potential at the Palace of Versailles on Tuesday.
On Monday, Al Marzooqi emerged out of three Emiratis in a qualifying field total of 75 riders to make the cut of 30 athletes to progress into the final round. In terms of age, he was pitted as the youngest against experienced riders.
When his time came, he completed his round on his mount Enjoy De La Mure with eight faults in a time of 83.38 seconds which placed him in 19th position in the final analysis.
A silver medallist at the 2023 Asian Games and the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Al Marzooqi's promising career made him as the ideal choice of being the male flagbearer at the opening ceremony on the Seina river in the French capital. At age 15, his silver in Argentina saw him become the first rider representing the country to win a medal in equestrian jumping.
With this, the UAE's campaign at the 33rd Olympics came to an end without a medal, leaving the 2004 Athens gold medal from Sheikh Ahmed Hasher Al Maktoum being the best result for the country at the sporting world's greatest spectacle. This year's staging has seen the presence of more than 10,500 athletes, including 14 from the UAE, in France for the July 26-August 11 event.
However, the 21-year-old's sojourn as youngest participating rider in the event's history at the Olympics, is seen by the local authorities as the bright spark to a great future, made possible with the support of organisations such as Al Shira'aa Stables and the leadership of the UAE.
His father Abdelaziz Al Marzooqi, a rider himself, opened a school in 2009 when Omar was six and he has been riding and being coached by his father since in Abu Dhabi. Omar is studying psychology and philosophy at the Sorbonne University, of Paris fame, in the Emirate.
In a statement provided by the National Olympic Committee, Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairwoman of the Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Chairwoman of Abu Dhabi Ladies Club, and Al Ain Ladies Club, owner and founder of Al Shira’aa Stables, said: “The UAE show jumping team’s participation in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is a result of the unlimited support from His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, and the support and interest of His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi, starting from the foundation stage, passing through the youth stage and up to qualification for major events, most notably the Paris 2024 Olympics.”
Sheikha Fatima pointed out that the national show jumping team's performance and advanced results achieved by all participating riders, have been based on a scientific methodology and future vision. “Al Shira’aa Stables has been keen to apply this since its inception 12 years ago. The excellence and success resulted from these promising practices and ambitious strategies that support the UAE’s efforts to elevate the sport of show jumping and increase its chances of representing the nation. It was not by chance but the result of consecutive years of planning and diligent work,” she said.
The show jumping riders of the UAE got a strategically prepared roadmap for training camps and competitions in Europe to get the best preparation heading into Paris 2024, courtesy of Al Shira'aa Stables and the support staff.
Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan praised the remarkable journey and outstanding success of the UAE riders in the individual show jumping event at the Paris Olympics, qualifying for the final stage among 20 countries, despite this group of riders participating for the first time in this major sporting event.
“Despite the presence of many riders from other countries who had participated in previous editions of the Olympic Games, the UAE show jumping team proved their merit to be among the best countries in the world with impressive numbers and positive results through the promising rider Al Marzooqi, who is the youngest rider participating in the event, followed by the rider Ali Al Karbi, reflecting the talent and competence of the nation's riders,” she noted.