Oman: Proud Achievement

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On the heels of a bit of a gloom in the country after the national football team’s debacle in the 2014 Brazil World Cup qualifying campaign, comes exhilarating news of the victory of Sultanate’s equestrian rider HH Sayyid Loay Bin Ghaleb Al Said at the Endurance Riding Championship in the Czech Republic. Oman’s experienced and well-known equestrian ace clinched the six-stage 160-km ride over some testing terrain for both the rider and his mount.

Loay’s winning performance adds to the numerous sporting glories of the Sultanate and reflects the rising standards of our sports-persons in recent years. Endurance riding is a complete test of the rider and the horse, and it requires exceptional skills, dedication, determination and, above all, lasting stamina to be able to complete the course. Loay deserves all the accolades for keeping the Sultanate’s flag flying at this international ride which was also a qualification for next year’s Endurance World Cup which will be held in Normandy, France. Laoy’s triumph has brought the smiles back on the faces of Omani sports fans – it was a proud moment for Oman’s endurance riding star to see the national flag fluttering at a major international sports event.

Ghaleb Al Said, who is credited with being the first Omani rider to take part in the Endurance World Cup in Dubai in 2005, has dedicated the victory to his Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, Sultanate’s visionary leader under whose guidance the nation has made remarkable progress in all fields of human endeavour. We recall the care and support which His Majesty the Sultan provides to the youth of the country so that they can excel in education, art, culture and sports. Through Royal orders and directives, Sultanate’s athletes have achieved good results in regional and international competitions. Even though Sultanate’s top football side could not qualify for the World Cup, they put up a competitive performance that underlined the rise in the standard of the game in the country...

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