UAE wins Asian Games showjumping team silver as Saudi Arabia retains gold
The UAE claimed showjumping team silver at the Asian Games 2026 in Tokyo on Thursday 1 October, delivering five clear rounds as Saudi Arabia retained its title in a contest decided by the final rider.
The Emirates Jumping Team finished on four faults across two rounds at JRA Equestrian Park, taking silver ahead of host nation Japan. Saudi Arabia completed the competition without adding a fault to secure gold.
Representing the UAE were Sheikha Latifah Bint Ahmed Al Maktoum with Cornet XL, Humaid Abdulla Khalifa Al Muhairi with Mentos, Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi with Hudson de Vains, and Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi with Enjoy de la Mure.
The result improved on the UAE’s team bronze at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou.
UAE shares the lead after opening round
Sheikha Latifah opened the UAE’s challenge with Cornet XL, finishing on four faults in 73.92 seconds. Her teammates then produced three consecutive clears, putting the team firmly in contention.
Humaid and Mentos completed their round in 71.95 seconds, followed by Abdullah and Hudson de Vains in 73.42 seconds. Omar and Enjoy de la Mure rounded off the team’s first-round performance with a clear in 71.91 seconds.
With each team’s highest penalty score discarded, the UAE carried zero faults into the second round, sharing the lead with Saudi Arabia.
Gold decided by the final rider
Sheikha Latifah returned with a clear round on Cornet XL in 74.49 seconds. Humaid followed with another clear aboard Mentos in 71.38 seconds, keeping the UAE on a clean score.
A fence down for Abdullah and Hudson de Vains meant the team’s hopes of finishing on zero rested with Omar and Enjoy de la Mure. A clear from the final combination would have kept the possibility of a jump-off for gold alive.
However, one fence fell for Omar too. With one of the four-fault rounds discarded, the UAE finished on a team total of four.
Japan also completed the competition on four faults, but the UAE’s faster second-round aggregate time of 218.77 seconds put it ahead of the hosts, who recorded 226.12 seconds.
Saudi Arabia’s final rider, Ramzy Al Duhami, then delivered the clear his team needed to secure gold, leaving the Emirates squad with silver.
William Funnell praises team performance
UAE chef d’équipe William Funnell praised the contribution of all four riders, while acknowledging the disappointment of narrowly missing the title.
“We came here to win gold, but it wasn’t to be. Everybody performed well, but you also need a little luck on the day,” he said.
“Going into the last round with Omar and Enjoy, we thought we would be heading into a jump-off with Saudi Arabia, but that’s show jumping. One unlucky fault can change everything.”
Funnell also highlighted the strength of the wider UAE squad.
“Every rider contributed today, which is really pleasing, and everybody’s scores counted. I think the riders rode extremely well.”
He said the team’s performances at the World Championships and Asian Games had demonstrated its consistency, with capable riders at home providing further depth for the future.
Individual medals next in Tokyo
The UAE riders now turn their attention to the Asian Games individual showjumping competitions.
The opening rounds take place on Saturday 3 October, followed by the final rounds and medal ceremonies on Sunday 4 October at JRA Equestrian Park.