Ayo Victor
DOHA: Qatar will field 12 riders across showjumping, dressage and eventing at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, with the national equestrian team targeting strong performances at the continental showpiece in Japan from September 19 to October 4.
The riders have completed an extensive preparation programme, including summer training camps designed to enhance their technical skills, physical fitness and competitive readiness ahead of the Games.
The showjumping team features Sheikh Ali bin Khalid Al Thani, Sheikh Fahad bin Jassim Al Thani, Faleh Suwaid Al Ajmi and Bassem Mohammed, while Jassim Jaham Al Kuwari and Saud Ahmed Al Buainain will represent Qatar in dressage.
The eventing team comprises Mohammed Jaber Al Nuaimi, Abdulaziz Ahmed Al Muhannadi, Mohammed Salem Al Marri and Mohammed Nasser Al Qadi. Eventing riders will compete across dressage, cross-country and showjumping.
Bader Al Darwish, President of the Qatar Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon Federation, said the federation had put in place the necessary preparations to enable the riders to perform at their highest level.
“We are pleased to have reached this stage of preparation for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. We have full confidence in our riders’ abilities, experience and potential to deliver strong performances at this major continental event,” he said.
Al Darwish highlighted the importance of the summer preparation programme, which included specialised training camps focusing on technical and physical development.
“We have an outstanding group of participating riders, and we look forward to seeing them translate their extensive preparation into strong performances and positive results,” he said.
He acknowledged, however, that Qatar will face stiff competition from some of Asia’s leading riders.
The equestrian programme will begin on September 21 with the team and individual dressage phases of eventing. The cross-country phase is scheduled for September 22, before the team and individual showjumping rounds conclude the eventing competition on September 23.
Dressage will continue with the team final and individual qualifiers on September 25, followed by the individual rounds on September 26 and 27.
The showjumping team competition will begin on October 1, with the individual events scheduled for October 3 and 4.
Qatar’s participation across all three disciplines reflects the depth and growing international experience of the country’s equestrian programme.
Al Darwish said the federation remained confident that close cooperation between the riders and the technical and administrative teams would help Qatar make a strong impression at the Games.
With experienced riders competing in team and individual events, Qatar will be aiming to convert months of preparation into strong results when the equestrian competitions get underway in Japan.