By Rod Kohler for SAUDI EQUESTRIAN
IN GLORIOUS SUNSHINE AND IN FRONT OF A PACKED CROWD OF 23,000 SPECTATORS, THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA MADE HISTORY TODAY WHEN THE SAUDI EQUESTRIAN TEAM WON ITS FIRST EVER TEAM JUMPING MEDAL AT THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES.
On a tough technical course that featured 13 obstacles, the Saudi Equestrian team of HRH Prince Abdullah bin Miteb Al Saud, Kamal Bahamdan, Ramzy Al Duhami and Abdullah Al Sharbatly, went into the history books as the first Arab riders to ever win a team medal at an Olympic Games for the Kingdom.
HRH Prince Abdullah bin Miteb Al Saud riding Davos was the first of the team to tackle the tough technical course, and following two flawless rounds on the previous two days, was unlucky to come away with four faults. Kamal Bahamdan riding Noblesse des Tess, followed shortly afterwards, and he too had one fence down plus a time fault to record a total of five faults.
Ramzy Al Duhami, who along with his team mate Kamal Bahamdan is competing at his fifth Olympic Games, also had one fence down and came home with four faults. Following further faults by their nearest competitors, the bronze medal was secure before Abdullah Al Sharbatly entered the ring. Six faults from Abdullah and Sultan therefore had no bearing on the overall team score.
Commenting on the team’s historic medal, Ramzy Al Duhami said, “Although this bronze medal has been won by the horse and riders, it is testament to all the hard work and dedication that the entire Saudi Equestrian team has invested over the last three years.”
He continued, “This medal would not have been won without the support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud, and the entire Board of Saudi Equestrian, who have given us riders the opportunity to compete at the highest level on the international stage. We will be forever in their debt.”
HRH Prince Abdullah said, “We are lucky to have the support of all Saudis and we have a fantastic team spirit within the Saudi Equestrian team. We dedicate this medal to all our supporters in Saudi Arabia and around the world.”
Kamal Bahamdan said, “The 2012 London Olympic Games have been a great experience so far – the organisation at the equestrian events has been first class and on behalf of the whole Saudi Equestrian team, we would like to thank everyone for all the support we have received; it has been an unforgettable Games for the whole team.”
Although this is the first team medal won by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Khaled Al Eid, who is one of the Saudi Equestrian riders, won an individual bronze medal at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000.
For copyright free pictures of the riders competing in Greenwich, the complete results from the first day and to download a press pack about the Saudi Equestrian team, please click on the following links:
http://tinyurl.com/brf54kv • http://tinyurl.com/cdo9xda • http://tinyurl.com/caustfl
For further information please contact:
Rod Kohler
Tel: +44 7770 647662
E: rod@revolutionsports.co.uk
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