Shaikh Nasser dedicates World Endurance Championship feat

Manama, Sep. 19 (BNA): HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, President of Bahrain Olympic Committee, the Bahrain Royal Endurance Team Captain, presented his achievement in the World Endurance Championships in Slovakia to HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in recognition and in honour of HM’s constant support to the endurance sport as well as for HM’s backing to the Bahrain Royal Endurance Team’s jockeys. HH Shaikh Nasser grabbed an unprecedented third place in this highly prestigious event, and in the process topping the list of the Arab jockeys participating in the event. HH underlined that this record wouldn’t have been possible with HM the King’s support. HH Shaikh Nasser further confirmed that this success adds to the Kingdom’s honourable accomplishments in the field of sport in the prosperous era of HM the King. "The World Endurance Championships in Slovakia is considered one of the toughest races, not just because of the weather conditions but also due to the enormous challenges the jockeys face during the race. However, thanks to the presence of HM the King and his follow up to the race and to our determination to honour the Kingdom in such big event, we managed to compete in top places and eventually grabbed the desired results in order to hold our beloved country’s flag high," The International Federation for the Equestrian Sport held a closing ceremony, where the winners of the race, including HH Shaikh Nasser was crowned with third place medal and the first place winner among the Arab jockeys. It’s worth noting that HH Shaikh Nasser finished behind the Spanish duo of Jaume Punti and Alex Luque who came first and second respectively in the event. The winning trio of the podium places were followed by another Bahraini jockey; Raed Mahmood who came fourth. In the team category, the Spanish team came first, followed by France and Netherlands. Jockey Raed Mahmood stressed that the Bahrain Royal Endurance Team’s results were achieved thanks to the sponsorship of HM the King to the team and HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa. "Thanks to the leadership of HH Shaikh Nasser, we were able to grab such impressive results in this prestigious race. HH Shaikh Nasser encouraged us to give our best though we were not familiar with field in the race. But we pledged to give our best, and our efforts at the end proved fruitful. The last stage of the race was very tense for me personally, but the invaluable guidance of HH Shaikh Nasser enabled me to finish fourth," he said.