Doha, Qatar, October 17, 2019: Kuwait’s 18th Asian Games equestrian champion, Ali Al Kharafi, was named Male Athlete of the Asian Games 2018 at the ANOC Awards in Doha on Thursday night.
Al Kharafi, 30, was riding the bay mare Cheril at the equestrian event in Jakarta last year and beat a top-class field in the individual jumping competition to bring glory to Kuwait.
The victory was even more significant as the Kuwaiti athletes were competing under their own flag after the IOC Executive Board had temporarily lifted a suspension on the Kuwait Olympic Committee on August 16 – just two days before the opening ceremony of the 2018 Asian Games. This suspension has since been lifted permanently.
The award was presented by a fellow equestrian athlete, 2002 Busan Asian Games jumping champion and IOC member Mikee Cojuangco Jaworski of the Philippines.
“This is really an honour to be presented with this prestigious award by ANOC - it is for all athletes in Kuwait,” he said.
Al Kharafi dedicated the award to the Emir of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, to the athlete’s father and also the Kuwait Olympic Committee for all their effort.
Talking about the level of equestrian sport in Kuwait, Al Kharafi said: “As Kuwait is a bit small compared to other countries in the area, having won this award I think we can win more.”
He added that success in equestrian sport was not only about the rider but also about the horse, and said he would continue to work hard to try and qualify for Tokyo 2020.
The Female Athlete of the Asian Games was Chinese gymnast Chen Yile, who won three gold medals at Jakarta – all-around, balance beam and team.
Chen, 17, received her award from Romanian Olympic gymnastics legend Nadia Comaneci. The Beijing-based Chen said she was honoured to be in Doha. “I really appreciate and acknowledge this award of ANOC and getting three gold medals at the Asian Games will be an inspiration for me to work harder.”
She described the Beijing training base as “brilliant” and the coaches “very professional” and said she would continue to train hard to qualify for Tokyo 2020 and make her dream come true.
The ANOC Awards 2019 were based on the five continental championships held within the past 14 months.
There were two other awards for Asian sports dignitaries:
*Japanese Olympic Committee President and 1984 Los Angeles Olympics judo champion Yasuhiro Yamashita received the ANOC Outstanding Athlete Award from five-time Olympian and OCA Hon. Life Vice President Raja Randhir Singh.
Yamashita said: “It is a great honour and a big pleasure to be awarded at this kind of ceremony. Next year we will host the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and for athletes from all over the world to show their best performance we will do our best preparation.”
*The Contribution to the Olympic Movement award was presented to the Qatar Olympic Committee President, HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, by ANOC Acting President Robin Mitchell.
