DUBAI: UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation announces that its four-strong dressage team has passed the vet check and will go on to compete tomorrow, Tuesday 26 September, in the team competition and individual qualification.
With the support of H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the United Arab Emirates will be represented in the team dressage competition for the first time since equestrian sports debuted at the ninth Asian Games in 1982.
Riding for the United Arab Emirates at the 19th Asian Games are:
· Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri on Ecencka, a 14 year old KWPN mare by Jazz
· Mohamed Jassim Al Serkal on Hermes V, an 11 year old KWPN gelding by Bretton Woods
· Natalie Lankester on Cash DXB, a 16 year old KWPN gelding by Hexagon’s Rubiquil
· Bianca Schütz on Fearless WS, a 9 year old Westfalen mare by Franziskus
The horses, who arrived in Hangzhou on Thursday of last week after quarantining in Aachen’s famous Deutsche Bank Stadium facilities, have been adjusting to their new temporary home at the stunning Tonglu Equestrian Centre and are ready to take to the centre stage and contend for a place on the podium.
Back in 2006, the UAE secured team Gold in Endurance, along with individual Gold and Bronze in the same year, as well as an individual Bronze in Show Jumping. Four years later, the UAE’s Show Jumping team secured two silver medals, both team and individual.
Tomorrow’s team competition and individual qualifications begin at 08:00 China Standard Time / 04:00 Gulf Standard Time with the FEI Prix-St Georges test, culminating in the Team Victory Ceremony at 17:30 CST / 13:30 GST. The UAE was drawn first and start times for each rider are scheduled as follows (all times shown in China Standard Time):
· 08:00 Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri on Ecencka
· 08:36 Bianca Schütz on Fearless WS
· 10:27 Mohamed Jassim Al Serkal on Hermes V
· 14:54 Natalie Lankester on Cash DXB
On Wednesday, 27 September, the riders will again take to the area to ride the complex FEI Intermediate I test to qualify for a place in Thursday’s Freestyle, with the best 15 horses from the previous day’s competition competing for a medal.
Organised by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Asian Games bring together the OCA’s 45 member countries to compete in a diverse range of 40 sports, including the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of dressage, show jumping and eventing.
