Egypt qualified for the Equestrian World Cup in Germany, reports Ghada Abdel-Kader Egypt hosted the International Equestrian Championship at Concorde El-Salam Hotel and Club in Sharm El-Sheikh. Riders representing Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Hungary, Ireland, Germany, France, England, and South Korea took part. The event included two rounds of the Arab league, the first round taking place from 30 September to 3 October. In the 145m-150m competition, Egypt's rider Yehia Fahmi won first place and $3,500 in prize money. Ahmed Ragab took second place and $2,750 while third place and $2,000 went to Sameh El-Dahan. In the six bars, Egyptian Alaa Maysara captured first and pocketed $1,500 while Jordanian Hani Kamal collected $1,250 after finishing second. The second round of the Arab league was from 7 September to 10 October. In the 145m-150m event Ragab finished first with $5,250. Fahmi won second place and $4,250 while Ahmed Tolba finished third with $3,250. In Puissance, Syrian Fadi Zbibi came first with $1,800 and El-Dahan took second and $1,350 in prize money. The Best Knight award went to El-Dahan. The Sharm El-Sheikh meet has international importance, for is winners qualify for the Equestrian World Cup. The first and second rounds of the tournament allow the two best horsemen in the overall standings of the 12-round tournament to enter the World Cup. "I am completely satisfied with the performance of our riders," President of the Egyptian Equestrian Federation (EEF) Hisham Hattab said. "We won the first three places in the two Grand Prix and International Equestrian Federation (Fédération Equestre Internationale) world tournaments and qualified for the World Cup final in Germany, in April 2011." Its league comprises 12 championships in several countries. Three tournaments remain, in the United Arab of Emirates, and one championship each in Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. The highest scores and results decide who goes to the final. The championship is being held for the third time in Sharm El-Sheikh, previously staged in 2005 and 2009. "Last year, the championship was very successful which attracted more riders to come this year," Hattab said. "We have 170 riders, 220 horses and 130 Egyptian riders. Also, this year for the first time we held children, junior and young rider competitions which attracted new age categories of riders." Hattab added, "Concorde El-Salam Club is registered in the EEF. It has all the facilities -- barriers, stables, horses and equestrian playgrounds made of fibre sand. It has been approved by the FEI to host the championship. "The federation's agenda is totally full. We have national championships using international criteria. This makes our riders train the whole year as if they are in training camps abroad. "We have the 12th Pan Arab Games in Doha 2011 which is a very important championship. In the 11th Pan Arab Games in 2007 held in Cairo we won 14 medals. "We are facing a huge challenge because of our financial situation which is very weak when compared to Arab countries as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar," added Hattab.
