Organizers with some of the riders.

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 30: Kuwait’s knights are gearing up to compete in the 11th "Atyab Al-Marshood" International Championship, scheduled to begin on January 9 at the Kuwait Equestrian Center track.

Leading the lineup is Kuwait Equestrian Club rider Ali Jassim Al-Kharafi, who tops the rankings of past champions. Al-Kharafi enters this year’s competition aiming to retain the title he secured in the 2024 season. He has claimed the championship crown four times—in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2024. Other notable winners include Rakan Al-Hasawi, who has won twice, and Abdulrahman Al-Fuzaie, Abdullah Al-Awadhi, and Noura Al-Qaoud, each with a single title to their name.

Speaking about the event, Ali Jassim Al-Kharafi, a star of both the Kuwait Club and the National Equestrian Team, emphasized the championship's significance, calling it the most prestigious and largest equestrian event held annually in Kuwait. He highlighted the strong desire among riders to participate in this iconic competition.

Al-Kharafi also expressed heartfelt gratitude to private sector companies for their support of equestrian sports, as well as the state’s contributions, which have elevated the sport in recent years. He noted the emergence of a new generation of young riders who are now competing fiercely alongside seasoned champions in the advanced categories.

He commended the efforts of Walid Sulaiman Al-Marshood, Chairman of the Supreme Organizing Committee, and Marshood Al-Marshood, the Championship Director, for their unwavering support of equestrianism over the past decade.