So close yet so far
But silver’s still a feat, given Qabil’s setbacks
RIDER Qabil Ambak spent almost RM1mil from his own pocket to make a comeback after eight years to participate in the Asian Games equestrian competition in Jakarta and he has no regrets at all.
Qabil’s sacrifice paid off handsomely when he rode to a silver medal for Malaysia in the individual dressage at the Jakarta International Equestrian Park yesterday.
The 38-year-old, riding on his horse Rosenstolz, scored 76.620 points in the individual freestyle 1 final but agonisingly missed out on the gold medal by just 0.425 points.
An anxious Jacqueline Siu, who rode on JC Fuerst On Tour, had finished her routine earlier with a score of 77.045 and jumped in sheer joy after Qabil’s routine to claim the first gold for Hong Kong at the 18th Asiad.
South Korea’s Kim Hyeok (Degas K) came in third with 75.805.
Qabil was the top qualifier into the top-15 final ahead of Jacqueline and Hyeok.
It was still the best finish for Qabil in the Asian Games individual dressage after taking bronze in Doha (2006) and Guangzhou (2010).
Qabil is a satisfied man as he had arrived in Jakarta on his own without any financial support from the Equestrian Association of Malaysia.
He made a decision to leave his family in Kuala Lumpur to base himself in Denmark k since February.
“I tried my best to get the gold for Malaysia but I lost by a very slim margin. My horse was tense at t the start today and I had tot calm it down first. I think that brought down my score a bit,” said Qabil.
“But it’s okay as I came here with little preparation and time.
“I only made up my mind to give it a try at the Asian Games only affter the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games as I thought I had a chance of winning a medal again.
“I left my family for the laast few months to prepare in Denmark and those are some of the sacrifices.
“If I had no faith, I would not have gone all the way. In equestrian, you have to spend money on things like hiring the groom, the veterinary doctor and transporting the horse around.
“My family also supported me financially. I used my sister Quzandria’s horse as the association did not have the funds this time, so winning this silver makes up for it,” said Qabil, a multiple gold medallist at the SEA Games.
Qabil is the only participant in dressage but he will compete in showjumping from Aug 27-30 with Shar mini Christina Ratnasingham and Neelan Jonathan Ratnasingham.