The Peninsula
Badr Al Darwish, Secretary General of the Qatar and Asian Equestrian Federations, yesterday applauded the efforts of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) to resume the 2019-20 Longines Hathab Series.
At QEF’s Indoor Arena, the 10th round of the popular series was successfully completed yesterday after a break of more than four months because of the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the world.
“I take this opportunity to thank all those who put in great efforts to get the season restarted,” Al Darwish said yesterday.
“I thank the riders, the referees, the technical staff and members of the media covering the 10th round,” he added.
“We were keen to resume the incomplete season and I am glad to see everything moving ahead successfully.
“The organising committee teams took exceptional care in putting everything together. We are following the safety advisory issued by the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH). Officials of the Qatar Red Crescent Society are also present at the venue,” Al Darwish said yesterday.
He added that completing the show jumping season remains a key part of QEF’s plans ahead of the start of the 2020-21 season.
On Friday, Omar Al Mannai, Vice Chairman of the LOC for Longines Hathab show jumping series, said riders and members of the organising teams underwent mandatory coronavirus tests before the restart of the popular competition.
“We conducted the tests following the advisory from the Qatar Olympic Committee and the MOPH on safety measures currently being followed in the country. The health and safety of everyone involved with our sport is very important to us,” Al Manani said.
“The organizing committee teams will follow all developments and instructions in the future also,” Al Mannai said.