Pakistan tops Tent Pegging World Cup qualifier in Oman
The team won 455 points and six gold, five silver and two bronze medals to qualify for the World Cup in Jordan.
Pakistan has finished first at the International Tent Pegging Federation World Cup qualifier in Oman, earning a spot at the fifth International Tent Pegging World Cup in Jordan. ProPakistani reported on 23 September that the national contingent topped the overall standings with 455 points.
The Pakistani riders won six gold, five silver and two bronze medals during the qualifier. The team represented the Equestrian Federation of Pakistan, which selects and fields the national tent pegging side.
Radio Pakistan also carried the first-place result, confirming that Pakistan had qualified for the World Cup. Both reports said the finish in Oman guaranteed Pakistan a place at the tournament in Jordan.
Tent pegging is a traditional equestrian sport in which mounted riders use a lance or sword to strike and carry a wooden peg from the ground while riding at speed. In Pakistan, the sport has deep roots in Punjab, where it is a regular feature of rural festivals and horse and cattle shows.
The Equestrian Federation of Pakistan said the result reflected sustained work by the riders, coaches and support staff who prepared for the international event. The federation has been working to raise the profile of the sport, which receives less media attention than cricket or hockey.
The qualifier in Oman brought together national teams competing for places at the World Cup. Pakistan's total of 455 points placed it first in the overall standings, according to ProPakistani, and the medal tally included six gold, five silver and two bronze.
The International Tent Pegging Federation is the global governing body for the sport. The qualifier in Oman was held as part of the pathway to the World Cup in Jordan, and Pakistan's points total was the highest at the event, according to ProPakistani.
The reports did not give dates for the World Cup or list other qualified teams. Pakistan's first-place finish in Oman means the national side will enter the tournament as one of the top qualifiers.
The achievement is expected to generate greater interest in tent pegging across Pakistan. Successful international results have often drawn attention to the sport and its riders, even though it does not enjoy the same regular coverage as the country's major team sports.
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