A file picture of Qatar's Sheikh Ali Al Thani in action during last year's CHI Al Shaqab at the Al Shaqab Arena. This year's event will take place from March 2 to 4 at the state-of-the-art facilities in Doha.
Top riders from all over the world will come to Al Shaqab in March to compete in the 5th edition of CHI Al Shaqab, which will take place from March 2 to 4 at its state-of-the-art facilities in Doha.
The 5th edition of the prestigious equestrian competition will see top-ranking local, regional and international riders compete in Show Jumping CSI 3*and 5*, Dressage CDI 5*, and Para-Dressage CPEDI 3*.
The event, which is open to the public will also include a host of entertainment activities aimed at inspiring young riders, trainers, officials and equestrian enthusiasts and contributing to a legacy of appreciation of the sport.
Top ranked riders will be competing at CHI Al Shaqab including Sheikh Ali Al Thani who represented Qatar and was placed sixth in show-jumping at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Other top-ranked riders who will be competing in the show-jumping events are world number one Daniel Deusser (Germany), who finished second in last year’s Grand Prix at CHI Al Shaqab; second-ranked Christian Ahlmann (Germany), who finished third in the 2016 Grand Prix; and Simon Delestre (France), currently ranked fifth in the world.
Patrick Kittel (Sweden) won both the Grand Prix and the Freestyle test at AL SHAQAB last year, and he’ll look to repeat the feat in 2017.
Other dressage riders to watch include Carl Hester (United Kingdom), the world’s number five, and Inessa Merkulova (Russia), ranked sixth. Several riders will be defending their 2016 crowns in para-dressage, including 1b winner Nicole Den Dulk (Netherlands), II winner Rixt van der Horst (Netherlands), and Philippa Johnson-Dwyer (South Africa), who won the III.
This year’s event is particularly special for Al Shaqab, as it marks its 25th anniversary. A special ceremony on March 3 is being planned to commemorate the occasion, combining a world-class competition with a keen appreciation of Qatari heritage.
“The Arab world has a very rich equine heritage, and through events such as this, Al Shaqab preserves and perpetuates that aspect of Qatari culture. CHI Al Shaqab significantly contributes to the international equestrian and business community, demonstrating Qatar’s role as a global sporting destination,’’ said Khalifa Al Attiya, the Al Shaqab Executive Director.
Omar Al Mannai, Event Director, CHI Al Shaqab, said: "The fifth edition of CHI Al Shaqab is shaping up to be the best one yet, with record participation expected. The equestrian competitions always attract the crowds, and this year is particularly special because of Al Shaqab’s 25th-anniversary celebration.”
“The international interest in CHI Al Shaqab, is very good for Qatar and the region as a whole. It creates a valuable dynamic between many stakeholders, including businesses, tourism and equestrian industries, as well as an array of cultural entities,” he added.
