Kingdom’s top rower Husein Alireza will compete in the Men’s Single Sculls at Tokyo 2020 Alireza will continue to train in the UK up until the beginning of competition JEDDAH: The Saudi national rowing team has secured a ticket to the Tokyo Olympics after the final qualification results were calculated and announced by the World Rowing Federation on Thursday. The Saudi Rowing Federation revealed that Husein Alireza, one of Saudi Arabia’s top rowers, will now compete in the Men’s Single Sculls, and Sultan Al-Shali will be his substitute at the games, which will be held in Tokyo from July 21 to Aug. 7, 2021. Tariq Ziad Sagga, executive director of the Saudi Rowing Federation, expressed his delight at securing qualification, praising Alireza for the skill and fighting spirit he displayed during the qualifying rounds. “We are happy to share that the Saudi Rowing Federation received confirmation from (the) World Rowing Federation that we have qualified for the Men’s Single Sculls for the Tokyo Olympic Games,” Sagga said. Sultan Al-Shali will be Husein Alireza’s backup in Tokyo. (Saudi Rowing Federation) Sagga also confirmed that the national team’s training camp for the Olympics has been ongoing since Alireza’s recovery from a rib injury he suffered last month. “Husein is currently holding his training camp in Britain until the Olympics begins, and he is doing his best, especially after recovering from his injury,” Sagga said. “Sultan Al-Shali has been preparing internally at the Maritime Club in Jubail and will continue until the June 14, before leaving for the Czech Republic to participate in the World Rowing Under-23 Championship,” he added. “Then he will join the team camp in Britain with … Alireza in the final preparations for the Tokyo Games.”