Beitunia – Al-Hayat Economic - The National Beverage Company Coca-Cola/Cappy (NBC) signed a sponsorship agreement for the participation of Palestinian Horse-rider Laila al-Maliki in the training camp and the Danube Spring Equestrian Championships that held in Šamorín, Slovakia, in preparation for her participation in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, that considered the first Olympic participation for Palestine in equestrian Sport.
The agreement was signed at NBC’s headquarter in the presence of Mr. Imad al-Hindi, the General Manager of The National Beverage Company, the Horse-rider al-Maliki, and her father Raed al-Maliki.
Mr. al-Hindi expressed his pleasure in sponsoring al-Maliki for the second time, leading her to get more international training and increase the chances of participating in international forums, especially the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. He also expressed the pride of NBC management about al-Maliki’s amazing achievements at the Arab and international levels during the past years, despite her young age and logistical challenges she faces, affirming NBC's adherence to the continued support for al-Maliki in the coming years and within available possibilities as a permanent partner to her.
He congratulated al-Maliki on her rising ambition, adding such this ambition motivates the NBC to provide support and assistance to al-Maliki and other girls and boys, who contribute to raising the name of Palestine in the regional and international sports competitions, emphasizing that her ability to challenge, ambition, and insistence are a role model for young men and women. He also stressed NBC's ongoing concern to continue raising the level of Palestinian sports, both at the level of individual or Team sport.
On her part, fifteen-year-old Laila al-Maliki expressed her pleasure in NBC sponsorship for her participation in the intensive training camp in Šamorín, Slovakia, which was supervised by an international trainer and a world champion in equestrian. She added that the first sponsorship provided by the National Beverage Company has effectively contributed to getting the training necessary to raise the level and improve performance, pointing out that what she lacks today is the possession of horse for her own.
On his part, her father, Raed Al-Maliki, expressed his thanks and gratitude to NBC management for its concern and ongoing support to Leila's sports career in the equestrian world, reflecting the management's belief in the ability of Palestinian youth to represent their state, Palestine, in international forums. He called on the private sector to follow NBC and provide more support for youth and sports as a part of their Social responsibility. Last February, al-Maliki was glorified by winning the first place in the Women's Championship for barriers hurdling at Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, with the participation of fifty-one Horse-riders from twenty-five countries. At the end of last year, she was crowned with FEI's “Against All Odds” award in Manama, the capital of Bahrain.
In 2017, NBC sponsored the participation of the Horse-rider al-Maliki in a training camp in Colombia, where she participated in the Colombia International Championship for barriers jumping. She won the seventh place in that Championship, in which 12 international teams participated, and al-Maliki represented the Palestinian team. She also won the award for best performance between a visiting team and a resident team.
