DOHA (Qatar): Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani amazing equestrian feat of lighting the cauldron of the 2006 Doha Asian Games on a galloping horseback inspired a generation of Qataris.
Sheikh Mohammed, brother of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, tough act of equestrian mountain-scaling exhibition on an Arabian horse Malibu on a wet and slippery ramp to lit the Asian Games Torch left many Qatari youngsters spell bound.
One of them was Asmaa Yasser Mohammed. It was there and then she decided that she will become an equestrian rider.
Fifteen years later Asmaa is under the spotlight after she won the Level 2 Dressage competition of the Longines Qatar Equestrian Tour Hathab.
The fourth season of the Longines Qatar Equestrian Tour Hathab held over a period of 12 rounds concluded on Saturday night.
“It’s feels so nice to be in the top position in dressage we worked so hard for this win and we still have a lot to work to do,” said Asmaa, in an exclusive interview with www.khelupdates.com.
Asmaa, topped in the Level 2 Preliminary Championship with 174 points at the end of six rounds, finishing ahead of Jassim Mohammed Al Fahd Al Kuwari and Ghanem Nasser Al Qadi.
Going down memory lane, Asmaa vividly remembers the challenging moments Sheikh Mohammed encountered while gallop in his way on the horse to lit the Asian Games torch.
“I was inspired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani’s feat of lighting the Cauldron of Asian Games at Khalifa Stadium in 2006. A historic moment which cannot be equaled in this world. So, I started riding in 2006,” said Asmaa, who took a break from riding in 2012 and made a return in 2019.
Having won a title, the wheels of change is felt by her on the inspiration front with many a young girl looking up to her as a role model in equestrian sport.
“Many girls came to me and told me that I’m their biggest inspiration in this (equestrian) sport. I know that many girls from different ages are inspired by us,” she said.
She was thrilled when Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, sister of the Sheikh Tamim, called to convey a message that her children have been inspired by her exploits in the Al Shaqab arena.
“Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani called me and she told me that her 5-year-old daughter is a big fan of mine. It was a magical moment and I was over the moon to hear that,” she said.
Besides having Sheikh Mohammed as inspiration, she has Edwina Tops Alexander as her idol and having a few male relatives in equestrian sports helped her pursue dressage as a sport.
“My father and my uncles used to be a horse rider and most of my family members are into equestrian sport,” she said about her family ties with the sport.
Having picked up a title at home Asmaa feels it is a shot in the arm for her sporting ambitions.
“As Qatari riders our goal always has been to represent our country in international and world competitions,” she said.
