Saudi equestrian star turns attention to Paris Olympics after 6th Asian Games gold

RIYADH: At the age of 10, Abdullah Al-Sharbatly was watching the International Federation for Equestrian Sports’ (FEI) World Championship with his friends when he turned to them and said, “one day, that will be me winning gold.”

It was a bold claim but fast forward 31 years and he is a champion show jumper.

To date, his best result at the World Championship was a silver medal in 2010, but he has a collection of other golds, including a record-breaking six wins at the Asian Games.

Two of those came at the event’s most recent edition in Hangzhou, China where he won the individual and team equestrian events on his horse Skorphults Baloutendro to consolidate his place as the most decorated athlete in Asian Games history.

Al-Sharbatly told Arab News: “It was a great victory; it was important to win for my king and my country. It was important for me personally too because I last won the individual title in 2014 and I really wanted to win it back again. It was an amazing feeling to do so.

“I must thank King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as (Minister of Sport) Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal and (Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation President) Prince Nawaf bin Faisal bin Fahed Al-Saud. Their support is invaluable.”

With the Asian Games now behind him, Al-Sharbatly is focused firmly on the Olympics in Paris next summer. His best previous result was a bronze at London 2012 and with the Games returning to Europe for the first time since then, the 41-year-old is in confident mood.

He said: “For as long as I can remember I have always been thinking of gold and now my aim is to win the Olympics. It is a clear goal for me. I am in super condition and have a lot of confidence. I believe I can win