DOHA: Qatar’s dressage rider Wejdan Majed Al Malki, who became the first Qatari woman to feature in a five-star event, was happy with her debut performance at the Commercial Bank CHI Al Shaqab, presented by Longines.
Riding Mango Jacaro, Al Malki impressed home fans with a captivating performance as she competed against top stars in the CDI5* GP – Grand Prix.
“I am very happy to make my debut in the five-star event,” the 44-year-old said on Friday.
“I was a bit nervous going into a difficult competition. I only focused on my horse and referee while performing but I was surprised to see such applause from fans. I thank them for their support,” she said.
“This experience will help me in my bid to qualify for Paris Olympics and I want to thank Qatar Equestrian Federation for their support and assistance in making my participation possible,” Al Malki said , who represented Qatar at the 2006 Doha Asian Games.
“My aim is to qualify for the 2024 Olympics Games in Paris and this experience will help me achieve that goal. I also want to participate at the FEI (International Federation for Equestrian Sports) World Cup events. These tournaments will be an important step in my career.”
Al Malki, who has been training in Spain and in Britain before the home event, will also be seen in action on Saturday as she is lined up to participate in two dressage events on the final day.
