Bornos: The Qatari Paramotor National Team, operating under the Qatar Air Sports Committee (QASC) of the Joint Special Forces, achieved a phenomenal milestone by securing second place in the overall team standings at the 7th FAI World Paramotor Slalom Championship held in Bornos, Spain.
According to Qatar News Agency, the championship featured over 55 pilots representing ten nations, namely Spain, Qatar, Poland, the Czech Republic, France, the UAE, Germany, the United States, Finland, and Belgium.
France claimed the top spot in the overall team standings with a haul of three golds, three silvers, and two bronzes, while the Czech Republic secured third place with one gold, two silvers, and one bronze.
Qatar's squad took a victory lap by winning two gold medals, a silver medal, and three bronzes. Securing this outcome, the squad clinched the runner-up position in the overall team standings at the world championship.
Ibrahim Ahmed Al Banna clinched the gold medal in the PL-1 Open category, while the Qatari team secured the gold medal in the Racing Team category through the stellar efforts of Saeed Al Merri, Ibrahim Al Banna, Eissa Al Hajjaji, and Abdulrahman Mohamed Elyas.
Abdulrahman Mohamed Elyas captured the bronze medal in the PL-1 Serial category, while Eissa Al Hajjaji took bronze in the PF-1 Open category, with the Qatari squad additionally winning the silver medal in the PL-1 team category and the bronze medal in the PF-1 team category, underscoring its global competitive stature.
HE Commander of the Joint Special Forces and Chair of QASC, Brig. Gen. Mohammed bin Zayed Al Otaibi, expressed enthusiasm about this achievement, affirming it as a product of the unwavering support the Qatari sport has been receiving, while praising the substantial backing from the Qatari sport's leadership.
Vice Chairperson of the QASC, Lt. Col. Abdullah Saeed Al Mansouri, emphasized the importance of this win in a strong tournament to continue the team's achievements, noting the high level of coaching throughout the competition.
Secretary-General of QASC, Capt. Hazza Hamad Al Attiyah, expressed joy at this significant milestone, attributing it to the leadership's robust support and the champions' determination, who aimed to proudly display the national flag in Spain's skies.
Lieutenant Colonel Saeed Al Merri, commander of the national paramotor squad, highlighted the elite cadre of pilots present at the championship and noted this accomplishment as building on a legacy of previous successes, pledging continued excellence for Qatar.
Gold medalist Ibrahim Al Banna remarked on the intensity of the competition and emphasized the team's concerted efforts in achieving this success, culminating in the display of the Qatari flag in Spain's skies.
This landmark achievement crowns the sustained excellence of the Qatari paramotor squad, which continues to shine on global stages and solidifies Qatar's pioneering status in the realm of paragliding sports.