The Saudi Arabian tent pegging team achieved a new sporting milestone, adding to the record of Saudi equestrianism, by securing official qualification for the 2026 World Tent Pegging Championships, scheduled to be held in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. This well-deserved qualification came after the Saudi riders dominated the qualifying tournament for Group B, which concluded its exciting competitions today in the Jordanian city of Aqaba.
The Saudi national team stars delivered an exceptional performance throughout the three days of the championship, enabling them to top the overall team standings with a comfortable lead over their rivals. The Saudi team's dominance wasn't limited to the team standings; they also swept the individual awards. The outstanding rider Rashid Al-Marri was crowned "Best Rider" of the championship after achieving first place overall, while his teammate, rider Meshal Al-Shammari, further solidified the team's success by securing third place in the overall rider standings.
The various rounds of the championship witnessed a remarkable turnout and high-level tactics from both the coaching staff and the players. The national team secured first place in the team relay and hanging competitions. In the individual competitions, the podium was entirely green, with rider Hassan Asiri taking first place, followed by Rashid Al-Marri in second, and Meshal Al-Shammari in third – a testament to the high level of Saudi equestrianism in this arena.
In the technical details of the competitions, the riders demonstrated exceptional skills in control, speed, and precision. In the sword competition, rider Rashid Al-Marri secured first place, while the team finished third. In the lance competition, rider Meshal Al-Shammari claimed first place, and the Saudi team achieved third place in the same event. The team was represented at this international event by a select group of riders: Rashid Al-Marri, Hassan Asiri, Meshal Al-Shammari, Khalid Al-Yami, and Abdulrahman Al-Harbi, under the guidance and supervision of national coach Abdulwahab Asiri.
This qualification holds special significance beyond simply reaching the finals; the Saudi national team will enter the 2026 World Cup as the defending champions, following their historic victory in the 2023 World Cup held in South Africa, where they won gold in both the team and individual categories. This continued success confirms that their previous achievement was not a fluke, but rather the result of strategic planning and a growing commitment to the sport of their forefathers.
Tent pegging is one of the oldest equestrian sports that enjoys widespread popularity in Saudi Arabia and the Arab region. These results reinforce the Kingdom’s position as a major power in heritage and equestrian sports at the international level, raising expectations for strong competition to retain the world title in the next edition in Jordan.
