Ukraine, Japan qualify for Olympic show jumping

By Staff Report July 12, 2011

Ukraine and Japan will both be represented in the Olympic Jumping events at London 2012, following their success at the Olympic qualification event held July 10 on opening day of the CHIO in Aachen, Germany. Ukraine secured a team slot and Japan one individual place during Sunday’s qualifier for Olympic Groups C – Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia – and G – South East Asia and Oceania.

Eight teams – Azerbaijan, Hong Kong, Hungary, Japan, Poland, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine – took part in the two-round competition. Competing over a strong track designed by Frank Rothenberger, team Ukraine were clear in the first round and finished on a score of 12 penalties to earn a team ticket to London 2012. The Ukrainians ended ahead of Turkey (25) and Poland (33) in the final standings.

There was a jump-off for the individual spot available for the best placed rider of Olympic Qualification Group G. Taizo Sugitani of Japan and Jasmin Chen of Taipei were tied on nine faults after the second round and went forward to a timed decider. Both riders were clear against the clock, but the Olympic slot went to Japan when Taizo Sugitani completed the course in 53.97 seconds, almost two seconds faster than Jasmin Chen’s 55.61.

Eight teams – Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, host nation Great Britain, and Ukraine – out of the 15 possible have qualified for the 2012 Olympic Jumping competition. A total of 15 teams will compete in London. Egypt, Japan and Syria have qualified individual riders.

The Ukraine’s Katharina Offel was the best individual rider overall and, as a result, qualified to take part at CSIO Aachen later in the week.

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