KUWAIT, Dec 21 (KUNA) -- Female equestrian Abrar Al-Azemi won the 'Al-Qudra wa Al-Tahammul' (capability and endurance) horse race held on Sunday as part of the Kuwait's Fifth National Heritage Festival.
The festival kicked off earlier today under auspices of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
Shadera Ahmad Al-Hajjaj, of the UAE, and her compatriot Hanan Al-Mutairi came in the second and third places respectively.
Kuwait's Jamila Ahmad and Fare'a Al-Wuggayan ranked fourth and fifth in the race that gathered 46 female equestrians from Kuwait and other GCC member states.
The results of the race will be confirmed the participating horses undergo anti-doping tests ahead of the prize-giving ceremony.
Deputy Chairman of the contest affairs committee of the festival Sheikh Sabah Fahad Al-Nasser Al-Sabah commended performance of the contenders in the three stages of the race.
"The participation of female equestrians from Bahrain, Qatar and UAE alongside Kuwaiti contenders added value to the race," he told reporters.
Meanwhile, head of Al-Kharafi team Ahmad Abul extolled His Highness the Amir for sponsoring the horse race and establishing the equestrian sports village at kilometer 59 of Al-Salemi Motorway, the venue of the festival.
"The village is the biggest achievement in the efforts aiming to promote the popularity of the equestrian sports," he said, adding that the project materializes His Highness the Amir's keenness on conserving the heritage of our ancestors. (end) fsa.tab.gb