DOHA: Al Udaid team became the second to qualify for the finals of the fourth Al Galayel Championship for Traditional Hunting being held at Al Areeq Reserve south of Qatar.
With 340 points, Al Udaid led the second heat of the championship which saw three more teams compete — Lusail in second place with 320 points, followed by Brooq (160) and Dukhan (90).
Khalid bin Mohammed Al Maadeed, Chairman of the championship, congratulated Al Udaid for qualifying for the final after four-day round.
The second round was thrilling, with Lusail and Al Udaid tying in first place before the final day and Lusail having only a 20-point lead at the end.
Hassan Amir Al Naimi, leader of Al Udaid, expressed happiness for entering the final.
“I think we are the strongest in the championship this year because our team members are experienced having participated in many competitions prior to this,” said Jassim Mohammed Al Kaabi, member, Al Udaid.
Brooq team’s Mohammad Yousef Al Naimi said just coming to the venue was an exciting experience and that participants were there mainly for entertainment and winning was just secondary.
Mohammad Al Dosari, member, Dukhan, said the experience would help his team in the coming competitions, despite not achieving good results. Al Dosari’s team came second in last year’s championship.
The championship is one of the most important of its kind in the world. Set against the backdrop of the picturesque Al Areeq Reserve, it features Qatar’s rich heritage and showcases Qatari hunters’ skills that have been passed down through generations.
It comprises four heats, each involving four teams. The teams hunt antelopes, habaris and curlews, each with corresponding points. The winner of each round competes in the final.
The Peninsula
