Al -Balushi .. From “Equestrian Champion” to the sixth of Asia in bikes

The national team for the teams for bicycles, Rashid Al Balushi, revealed his ambition to reach the Olympic Games “Los Angeles 2028”, indicating that his participation in the Sharjah Tawaf and Asian Championship for the road in Thailand is the beginning of a greater international presence with Emirati bikes, which he finally joined from the equestrian fields .

He told «Emirates Today»: “My beginning was late with the 30 -year -old bikes, but I have a great ambition to represent the state in the major forums led by the 2028 Olympics.”

Rashid Al Balushi had grabbed attention in his first foreign participation in the Asian Championship of the road that was held in Thailand, during February, during which he achieved sixth place in the individual race against the watch among 20 contestants, although he entered the race and is ranked 20, then participated in the race The general individual, and he succeeded in completing the most difficult race, which reached 171 km and contains highlands, transcending professional champions in the game, and he got on The 13th place of 71 participants. ”

Al -Balushi added: “My sports start was in equestrian since my childhood. , Where I got the first place. ”

He continued: «In 2016, I started practicing bicycles in the hobby stage to preserve my fitness in equestrian sport and not for the purpose of competition, but this sport attracted me greatly, and I continued its training on a daily basis, along with equestrian until 2021, then I was emptied of bikes until I had the opportunity to act The team this year for the first time, and I thank the President of the Federation, Eng. Mansour Bouasiba, for providing this opportunity for me. ”

Regarding the delay in the decision to join the national team despite the distinguished level it provides, Al -Balushi said: “Bikers may think that this is a delay, but I do not think that, as I had many achievements in equestrian sport, and the next is better.”

And on the representation of the national team for bicycles for the first time in the foreign championships, he said: “I thank the bicycle federation for its confidence and optional to represent the team. Global Road ».

He continued: «My ambition in cycling is to qualify for the Olympics, and I think that the elements of the national team are able to do so. The strongest and most difficult in the general individual race with a distance of 171 km, and we will continue to train until we achieve ambition. ”