Qatar will be a strong nation in equestrian sport, says Jan Tops

DOHA: Dutch equestrian legend Jan Tops believes Qatar is on track to becoming a dominant force in equestrian sport within the next decade, with an Olympic medal in sight.

The founder of the Global Champions Tour and a gold medalist at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Tops has been closely involved with Qatar’s equestrian development for over a decade. Speaking on the sidelines of the Longines Global Champions Tour at Al Shaqab, he expressed confidence in Qatar’s rapid progress.

“I believe in the next five to ten years, Qatar will be a strong nation in equestrian sport, and hopefully, one day, we will win an Olympic medal,” said the 63-year-old, who has played a key role in the country’s equestrian youth development program.

Having worked with Qatar’s top riders for more than 12 years, Tops highlighted the nation’s success on the international stage. Qatar won a team gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon and made history by qualifying for the Olympic Games in showjumping for the first time in Rio 2016, a feat they repeated for Paris 2024.

“All team members have big ambitions, and we hope to qualify for future Olympics as well. Hopefully, one day, we will win an Olympic medal,” he added.

Tops also praised the growing talent pool in Qatar, crediting the country’s structured approach to developing young riders.

“Earlier, we had very few riders, but now we have a growing number between the ages of 8 and 16, thanks to initiatives like the Riding Academy at Al Shaqab. The talent pool is expanding, which is a great sign for the sport,” he said.

Acknowledging the complexities of equestrian sport, Tops emphasized the importance of both the rider and their horse in achieving excellence.

“To become a top rider, it takes years of dedication and skill development. Building a strong partnership with your horse is essential,” he noted.

Qatar’s equestrian growth is further supported by local competitions such as the Qatar Equestrian Tour—Longines Hathab. Now in its eighth season, Hathab provides young riders with a platform to develop and compete in showjumping and dressage. The current season, which began on September 25, 2024, runs until May 2025, featuring 14 events held at the Qatar Equestrian Federation and Longines Arena at Al Shaqab.

With a well-structured development system in place, Tops remains confident that Qatar’s equestrian ambitions will soon translate into global success, including the long-awaited Olympic medal.