29.08.2008
Qatari Olympic athletes meet with Bid Chairman to express support for Doha 2016
Qatari Olympic athletes Rashid Shafi Al-Dosari, Abdulaziz Saleh Al-Attiaya and Abdulkadar Hikmat Serhan are all in the midst of intensive preparation leading up to their participation in the XXIX Olympiad to be held in Beijing, China. Recently, the Qatari Olympians had the opportunity to meet with Doha 2016 Bid Chairman, Mr. Hassan Ali Bin Ali.
Mr. Hassan said: “In Qatar, we have state-of-the-art sporting facilities as well as sports development programmes and a culture that encourages the youth of our country to participate in sport at an elite level. I’m proud to see that our top athletes will have the opportunity to potentially realise their dreams at the greatest sporting event in the world”.
Rashid Shafi Al-Dosari has been practicing discus since he was 15 years old. During the early stages of his athletic career his coaches encouraged him to gravitate towards discus because of his size, strength and agility. Al-Dosari is looking for a place on the podium at the Games in August and to improve upon his 11th place finish in Osaka last September while competing at the IAAF World Championships.
“As a Qatari Olympic athlete, I look forward to competing in the Olympic Games with my team mates. As Qatari athletes, we support Doha’s bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016. It would be an honour for Doha to host the Games and for Qatari athletes to compete for our country on our own soil. Hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Doha in 2016 would bring the Olympic flame to the Arabic-speaking world for the first time,” said Al-Dosari.
Abdulaziz Saleh Al-Attiaya started shooting professionally when he was 26 and just one year after qualified to compete in an ISSF World Cup in Italy. He is competing in the ISSF World Cup in Suhl, Germany in June and the ISSF World Cup in Belgrade, Serbia in July leading up to his participation in the Double Trap competitions in Beijing.
“We have a long standing tradition of practicing my sport in Qatar and I anticipate a podium finish for myself or one of my team mates competing in Beijing. Our team supports the Doha 2016 Bid and we look forward to encouraging the community in Doha to be actively involved in the Olympic Movement on a local level,” said Al-Attiaya.
Abdulkadar Hikmat Serhan, just 21 years old, has been practicing Taekwondo for over ten years in Doha. What began as a hobby turned into a passion and has led to qualification for the Olympic Games this summer. In 2000, Abdulkadar received his first medal in international competition, a Bronze medal in Taekwondo at the GCC Championships at the sub-junior level.
“I have been on a rigorous training schedule throughout the past year leading up to the qualifying events for the Games. I am looking forward to representing my country and competing for my first time in the Olympic Games,” said Serhan.
Qatar currently has 14 athletes who have qualified for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing, as well as five who are awaiting qualification, spanning several sporting disciplines such as Discus, Marathon, 110mH, 100m, 1500m, 5000m, 3000m SC, Weightlifting, Shooting, Swimming, Sailing and Taekwondo.