Edwina Tops Alexander has won the prestigious event in the past. © CHI Al Shaqab

Australian showjumper Edwina Tops Alexander has landed in Doha, in the State of Qatar, ahead of this weekend’s CHI AL SHAQAB.

Joining her to represent Australia in the dressage arena is para-dressage rider Amelia White.

Edwina and Amelia are just two of 85 riders from 27 countries that have descended upon Doha to compete in the spectacular Commercial Bank CHI AL SHAQAB Presented by Longines 2021 event, which will be held at the Longines Arena at Al Shaqab, from February 25-27.

  Ameila White and Genius will compete in the para-dressage competitipn this weekend. © Amelia White Equestrian

In addition, 138 horses have arrived in Qatar’s capital city, to take part in the world-class international equestrian competition.

Al Shaqab, a member of Qatar Foundation, is organizing CHI AL SHAQAB for the eighth time, and the much-anticipated event will again see riders participate in the Olympic disciplines of showjumping, dressage, and para dressage.

Sweden’s Peder Fredrickon, ranked number four in the FEI Longines Jumping Rankings, headlines the riders’ list, while Olympians and former CHI AL SHAQAB winners Edwina Tops-Alexander (Australia) and Scott Brash (Great Britain) make welcome returns to Doha.

At a press conference held on February 23 to officially launch the event, Omar Al Mannai, Event Director, Commercial Bank CHI AL SHAQAB Presented by Longines, and Commercial Manager, Al Shaqab, said, “Once again, this amazing event has managed to attract globally respected champion riders and horses to Doha. They love to compete at Al Shaqab, and it shows in the number of riders who keep returning for the event.”

A former international-level showjumper and dressage rider who represented Qatar in the 2006 Asian Games, Al Mannai emphasized the importance of para dressage as a part of Commercial Bank CHI AL SHAQAB Presented by Longines.

“This is the sixth year Al Shaqab will be including this important Olympic discipline in the event, and our facilities are geared to meet the needs of the participants, who are wonderful role models and sources of great inspiration. We look forward to seeing Qatari riders competing in this discipline in the future,” he said.

In line with government COVID-19 health and safety guidelines, the venue capacity will be restricted to 10 percent. Fans unable to access the venue can still catch all the action, as the event will be streamed on the Al Shaqab website, alshaqab.com.

 “As an organizer, Al Shaqab is proud of the hard work that has gone into making the event a reality in the midst of a global pandemic. But, more than

anything else, the health and safety of participants, spectators, and all involved with the event remains Al Shaqab’s highest priority,” Al Mannai said,

CHI (Concours Hippique International – International Equestrian Competition) is the official title awarded by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) to international equestrian competitions with three or more equestrian disciplines.  Commercial Bank CHI AL SHAQAB Presented by Longines is one of only five CHI competitions worldwide and the first and only equestrian event of its kind in the Middle East and Asia region.

Source: Event press release

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