Qatar’s Badr Mubarak al-Marri won gold in the singles competition at the horseback archery World Championships qualifiers in South Africa Friday. The event, which began on January 15 concluded Friday at the Rossfield Equestrian Club in Pretoria.
The competition is part of the World Horseback Archery Championship Qualifiers. It was held in five groups, under the umbrella of the International Horseback Archery Federation, with three teams qualifying for the final.
Thirty-four players from different parts of the world participated in the tournament. The event was divided into four competitions: clog throwing, chain throwing, Kasai system and the team system.
Al-Marri scored 4 points in the individual pole throwing competition, leading the competition with 38 points. Coach Fouad al-Mudhahka, who is also a member of the World Horseback Archery Federation (WHAF), was gratified with the good accomplishment at the international level.
“I congratulate Badr al-Marri for winning the gold at these qualifiers for the international championship, and for hoisting the Ada’am (colloquial for Qatar flag) very high and of course all the riders in the Qatari team,” he told Gulf Times Friday.
Al-Mudhahka confirmed also that “the international competitions were highly competitive, and the nature of the tournament is the quick throw from horseback. Horseback archery is one of the ancient traditional sports, and it is practiced in Qatar, as one of the unique sports in the region, and a contribution to the expansion of the Arab heritage.”
Three other Qatari riders Abdulaziz al-Qahtani, Abdul Rahman al-Ishaq and Hayel al-Anzi also participated in the competition.
Badr Mubarak al-Marri in action during competition
Badr Mubarak al-Marri, in middle with Fuad al-Mudahka member of the WHAF, right, and team mate, left.
