Qatar shooter Al Rumaihi, rower Tala Abujbara arrive in Tokyo
Beach volleyball team departs; Athletes continue training in Takasaki
QATAR’S Mohamed Al Rumaihi and Tala Abujbara arrived in Tokyo, Japan on Friday to participate in Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to be staged from July 23 to August 8.
Al Rumaihi will participate in the men’s trap event of shooting while Tala Abujbara will be representing Qatar in the women’s single sculls event in rowing.
Al Rumaihi, who is accompanied by coach Robert Mlodzianowski, said he was ready to give his best.
“My training for Olympics has been very good. The training camp in Italy which lasted for more than a month was very useful as I competed in different events there,” said Al Rumaihi.
“After qualifying for Olympics two years ago following the Asian Championship in Doha, I underwent extensive preparations and I am ready to give my best. I always wanted to be among the elite athletes and I am very happy to compete in Olympics.
“I will give my best to honour Qatar sports. I want to thank the Qatar Shooting & Archery Association (QSAA) for their help and guidance,” he added.
Saeed Al Mannai, Chairman of the National Teams Committee, QSAA, hoped for Al Rumaihi to shine at the Games.
“Muhammad Al Rumaihi has done a lot of hardwork since qualifying for the Olympics. I am hopeful he will give a strong performance,” said Al Mannai.
“We started the journey since the qualification in 2019 and we developed a program that aims to make Qatari shooting at the forefront of the teams seeking to win a medal at the Olympics. Our presence in Tokyo will be a turning point in the shooting world and we expect to achieve an honorable result, Al Mannai added.
QSAA Secretary-General Majid Ahmed Al Nuaimi said Al Rumaihi has a strong chance of achieving good results. “Al Rumaihi has shown a lot of commitment in the last two years. From attending training camps to participation in the events, he has left no stone unturned in his preparations. He is now ready to compete in Olympics and I feel our chances in the Olympics are great,” said Al Nuaimi.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s beach volleyball duo of Ahmed Tijan and Cherif Younousse, along with Qatar Volleyball Association (QVA) officials, left for Tokyo on Saturday ahead of their participation in the games.
The volleyball delegation is headed by Ali bin Ghanem Al Kuwari, President, QVA, and includes Mohamed Salem Al Kuwari, QVA member of the Board of Directors, ViceChairman of the Beach Volleyball Committee, delegation manager, Mohamed Anbar Al Nasser - member of the Beach Volleyball Committee (the delegation administrator), Mariano Paracetti, coach of the national team, assistant coach Pablo Bernardi, and therapist Arnel Cruz.
The beach volleyball competitions will be held at
Shiokazi Park Stadium.
A total of 15 athletes will represent Qatar in seven disciplines at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics competing in six track and field events.
Team Qatar’s Chef de Mission for Tokyo 2020 Olympics Mohammed Saeed Al Misnad thanked the organising committee of the Games for their cooperation with all the participating delegations and wished all success for Team Qatar athletes.
“We are keen to provide our teams and athletes with all possible means of support
during their participation in the games. The pre-coordination between Qatar’s administrative delegation and the organizing committee of Tokyo 2020 Olympics began a long time ago to ensure the safety of participating athletes, especially in light of the current circumstances as a result of COVID-19 pandemic,” said Al Misnad.
Track and field stars continue to train
Qatari athletes held their second training session at the base camo in Takasaki on Saturday.
Reigning world high jump champion Mutaz Barshim, World Championships 400m hurdles bronze medalist Abderrahman Samba were also seen in action during the training.
Qatar’s athletics squad also include Abubaker Hayder, Abdirahman Saeed Hassan, Musab Adam, Femi Ogunode and Ashraf Amgad El Seify. All participated in the training session.
Two-time Olympic medalist Barshim and Samba will be Qatar’s main hopes of medals in athletics.