Alkass Digital
Qatar’s long-serving coach and Global Champions Tour founder Jan Tops said he was optimistic of Qatar’s chances of qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics at the qualification tournament, which will be held at Al Shaqab on February 27 and 28.
Top two nations from Africa and the Middle East will have the opportunity to seal their place for the Paris Games at the two-day qualifiers. While Qatar will have other chances – through this year’s Asian Games and FEI Nations Cup Series – Tops and Qatar Equestrian Federation will be hoping the team can punch their ticket to Paris at the home turf later this month.
Qatar finished an impressive ninth in their Olympic debut at the Rio Games in 2018, but failed to qualify for Tokyo four years later. Two members of the Rio squad – Hamad Al Attiyah and Bassem Hassan Mohamed – were among five riders who underwent a training camp under Tops in the Netherlands from June. Only four riders will be allowed to compete at the qualification tournament in Doha.
“The spirit is good in the Qatar squad, but they don’t have so much experience. We have a few new riders in the team. Maybe the trials are coming a bit quick. But I think we’re going to give our very best to try to make a good result,” said Tops, as he kept a close eye on the young Qatari riders competing at the Qatar Equestrian Tour - Longines Hathab at Al Shaqab yesterday.
“We have tough competitions from many top countries. But let’s see, I want to be optimistic. There are five riders, but only four can compete. The Qatar riders were in the Netherlands with my trainer from May. So let’s see what we can do at the trials. I am very optimistic. We’re going to give our best for sure,” he added.
Tops was also impressed with the growth of equestrian sport in Qatar. “I have been coming to Qatar since the Asian Games 2006. I see the growth of the country and I see the growth of horse sport, which is equestrian. It has been growing a lot. I see a lot of nice young riders here. I’ve been watching Hathab the whole day, which is a great initiative. You have to be on the national level doing well and from there you get your foundation to get more experience and reach international level. This is fantastic,” the 61-yaer-old said.
“Al Shaqab is the most special place in the world for me. Not only in the Gulf but in the world, it’s the best. This place has everything and I’m very happy they are making use of it. The last few years they have been organising more and more events. I see positive vibes in the country. And I’m sure if they continue like this after a few years we can be with some new riders who are very competitive again. We had a great team at the Rio Olympics and now we are developing some new rides. Inshallah we can do the same or better in the future,” he added.
Tops, the four-time Olympian for the Netherlands won team gold at the Barcelona Games in 1992, but it’s at the business side of equestrian where he has struck gold. His brainchild Global Champions Tour has grown over the years, with the stunning Al Shaqab arena hosting the season-opening event for the fifth year running next month.
“The Global Champions Tour is growing A lot. We have 16 teams competing in the league. Obviously, we are starting here in Doha in two weeks. I think the whole tour is growing. We have worked very hard and are getting more exposure now. We’re working with more TV channels with our own side, and we are really working on our brand worldwide. That’s the thing that we are really working hard on. I think this sport is like an Olympic class. You see the best riders competing, which is if you love the horses, it’s something amazing,” he said.
“What we have is unique. We are in very special locations, like in front of the Eiffel Tower. We are in New York, we are in downtown London. We have really special places where people want to be. And I have a very good feeling for this year. The Covid has passed and yeah I am optimistic for this season. There are not many restrictions like we had two years ago."