First Gold Medal for Qatar in EventingIt was a roller coaster of emotions for the Eventing family at the 15th Asian Games in Doha, torn between highest glee over the first gold medal for the hosting Qatari team and deep grief over the fatal accident at Cross Country. The Qatari quartet, consisting of Abdulla Ali Abdulla Al Ejail / Quinten (46.70); Rashid Faraj Alat Al Marri / Bonny C (66.20); Awad Mohammed Al Qahtani / Langata Son (69.40); and Ali Mohammed Ali Al Marri / Reality Z (91.10), totalled 182.30 points winning the country’s first ever equestrian medal. “It was a very strong competition. The determination of the team was what got us the gold medal. I was the last Qatari rider to compete for my team, which is why I was extremely nervous. Before I entered the show jumping arena I took all the pressure away, went calmly and just gave my best.” The favourites from Japan (Yoshiaki Oiwa / Khanjer Black (44.50); Ikko Murakami / Intoransit (77.70); Shigeyuki Hosono / Ipeca (81.90); and Daisuke Kato / Homme du Gue (175.30) had to settle for silver with a final score of 204.10 after none of their riders managed a clear Jumping round. However, the Individual gold was clearly theirs thanks to the wonderful performance of Yoshiaki Oiwa and his Olympic prospect Khanjer Black. Yoshiaki or Yoshi as he is known to his friends is based at Gatcombe (GBR) where he trains with Bettina and Andrew Hoy and World Champion Zara Phillips. He had finished in 18th position at this summer’s FEI World Equestrian Games with a clear Cross Country and Jumping rounds. Quite an achievement indeed! "The pressure was harder today because it was the first time to ride for a team and it was the first time to come out as the last rider,” Yoshi said. With a final result of 244.90, India (Bhagirath Singh / Guddu (61.20); Rajesh Pattu / Shahana (61.80); Deep Kumar Ahlawat / Tipu (121.90); and Palvinde Singh / Naksh (eliminated) took the bronze. The team, coached by former Olympic medallist Ralf Ehrenbrink from Germany, had to defend their medal filing a protest against as Indonesian rider for using rowel spurs. The scratch gave the Indian team a lead of 1,9 points. The individual bronze medal went to Husref Malek Jeremia (MAS) on Dashper (57.30). He knocked one Jumping fence down but kept the lead in front of the Indian cavalry officers Bagirath Singh (61.20), fourth, and Rajesh Pattu (61.80), sixth at his third Asian Games. Malaysian Lee Johari, riding the 18-year old Australian veteran Star Portrait, the competition’s oldest horse, finished in fifth position on his Dressage score of 57.30. The full results are available on the official website of the 15th Asian Games www.doha-2006.com