Vice-President of Nigeria H E Yemi Osinbajo and Ambassador of Qatar to Nigeria Dr. Ali Ghanem Ali Al Fhaid Al Hajri at the Qatar International Falconry & Hunting Festival.
Doha: Three falcons qualified for semi finals of Al Tala Championship, which was held yesterday at Sabkat Marmi at Sealine.
The championship organised under the 13th Qatar International Falconry & Hunting Festival (Marmi), is held under the patronage of H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani.
Organised by Qatar Al Gannas Society, the Festival will continue until January 29.
The owners of the qualifying falcons expressed their happiness on the performance of their birds, expecting to do better in coming rounds.
Vice President of Nigeria, H E Yemi Osinbajo, with his accompanying delegation, and accompanied by Ambassador of Qatar to Nigeria, H E Dr. Ali Ghanem Ali Al Fhaid Al Hajri, visited Sealine yesterday to enjoy the championship of Hudad Al Tahadi.
The Vice President was briefed about the facilities of the festival site and Marmi International Festival and its most important tournaments. At the conclusion of his visit to the festival site, the Qatar Al Gannas Society presented the Vice President of Nigeria with a commemorative shield consisting of a map of the State of Qatar.
Dr. Ali Ghanem Ali Al Fhaid Al Hajri presented the shield to Vice President.
Yesterday, the participants thanked Qatar Al Ghannas Society and the organising committee of the Qatar International Falconry and Hunting Festival (Marmi 2022).
They explained that the festival is an occasion to renew the meeting with their brothers and friends who share a passion for falconry and traditional hunting.
The participants lauded the festival and tournaments organised by the society, a great opportunity to preserve the legacy of parents and grandparents. The new site of Al Tala tournament which increased from 1,600 metres to 2km, enhanced the competition, as the falcons can see the Houbara bird from long distance and catch them.
Falconer Abdullah Al Qahtani said that he is participating in the festival for the first time with a well=trained bird. Arab and foreign visitors are still flocking to the festival site in order to closely follow this beautiful heritage atmosphere.
They lauded the good arrangement of the festival starting from paving the desert road all the way to the entrance to the site and the platform and hospitality.
Hafeez Salem Al Ghassani from Sultanate of Oman said: “We are fans of the heritage of falconry, and we are always keen to visit the Marmi Festival annually and enjoy its atmosphere.”
He said that Qatar and other GCC countries are preserving the heritage of falconry and thanked Qatar for the efforts in supporting the hobby of falconry.
