Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
UAE equestrian Alya Almheiri helped her team win gold at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games early on Thursday morning in Senegal.
Almheiri effort powered Team Asia to gold in the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) team competition, ahead of Team South America, who took silver, and Team Africa, who claimed bronze.
The team event is separate from the individual showjumping competition, which is part of the official Olympic medal programme.
The Emirati rider also progressed to the individual showjumping final with a time of 71.81 seconds with eight penalty points in a field of 24 competitors. The final will determine the individual medal winners.
Almheiri said representing the UAE was a source of pride and that the achievement of compatriot Omar Al Marzouqi, who won silver in showjumping at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, had inspired her.
She said: “The most important things in such competitions are staying calm, focusing on building trust with the horse and adapting to it quickly.”
Al Marzouqi, meanwhile, took part in the International Olympic Committee's Athlete Role Models Programme, which brings together 36 athletes, including Olympic champions and world medallists, to guide and inspire young competitors through workshops and interactive sessions.
The Emirati became the UAE's first Youth Olympic medallist when he won silver in showjumping at Buenos Aires 2018.
