Nasser bin Hamad crowned at the closing ceremony

Bahrain celebrates the individual and team titles of the World Cup Endurance at Emirates Palace

During the coronation of the World Endurance Champions yesterday at Emirates Palace. Cinematographer: Najeeb Mohamed

The World Endurance Championship concluded at the Butheeb International Endurance Village in Al Khatem, Abu Dhabi, with the Bahrain national team winning the individual and team titles for the first time in the history of its participation in the championship, in the 160km race, organized by the Emirates Equestrian Federation and under the supervision of the International Equestrian Federation.

The coronation ceremony took place yesterday at the Emirates Palace Hotel, where the President of the Emirates Equestrian and Racing Federation and Chairman of the Supreme Committee, Major General Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi and Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa crowned the world champion Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa with the gold medal, the second Salem Malhouf with the silver medal, and the Spaniard Juma Ponte with the bronze medal, in the individual category.

Team gold medallist Bahrain, silver medalist France and bronze medalist Portugal were also crowned.

For his part, Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, captain of the Royal Bahrain Endurance Team, expressed his happiness to win the title of the World Endurance Championship over a distance of 160 km at Butheeb International Village, praising the distinguished level of the UAE in organizing the global event.

He added in a press statement that the organization of the World Cup confirms the UAE's successive successes in hosting major championships and sporting events, noting that the championship witnessed fierce competition from various participants from the beginning of the race in the early morning until the end. Regarding his preparations that preceded the tournament, the captain of the Bahrain team explained that he was keen in the past period to prepare well for the World Cup due to the importance of being a gathering of the world's elite riders, wishing success to all riders in the coming period.

The 160-kilometre tournament was held with the support of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, with the participation of 122 riders representing 36 countries.

His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs in the Kingdom of Bahrain, won the title of the Endurance World Cup, which was held at the Butheeb International Endurance Village in Al Khatem, Abu Dhabi, after leading Darco La Maggiore to win the world title and the gold medal in a time of 7:36:39 hours, with an average speed of 21.02 km/h.

UAE national team rider Salem Malhouf, holder of the 2021 edition, ranked second on the horse "Hala", recording a time of 7:52:35 hours, with an average speed of 20.31 km/h, and the Spanish rider Juma Ponte came in third place on the back of "Eco Falls", with a time of 7:55:23 hours, at an average speed of 20.19 km/h.

For his part, FEI President Ingmar de Vos praised the wonderful organization of the championship from Boudheeb International Village, and said: "The UAE has succeeded in organizing the World Endurance Championship at all levels, as we aspire that this level will be the basis for organizing global races in the coming period."

He continued in a press statement: «Everyone here made tremendous efforts, which led to the success of the event well in all aspects of organizational, technical and television transmission, and the atmosphere in which the competitions took place was good, and the process of transporting horses to participate in the championship was smooth».