Terengganu sultan to star in Sea Games equestrian endurance race
KUALA TERENGGANU: Sultan of Terengganu Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin is expected to star in the national team at the upcoming Sea Games equestrian endurance race.
The sultan has been shortlisted for the event along with 11 others in the team, due to be finalised soon, for the 80km event at the Terengganu International Equestrian Park (TIEP) in Lembah Bidong, Setiu, on Aug 20.
There are two gold medals offered for the individual and team endurance races.
Sultan Mizan has vast experience in the sport, having competed in international equestrian endurance events.
Equestrian Association of Malaysia vice-president Mohamad Din Mat said Sultan Mizan was listed in the Sea Games squad by virtue of his top four ranking in the world by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports.
The sultan won third place in the Sultan Mizan Cup International Endurance Riding Championship last year. Representing Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable, Sultan Mizan recorded an average speed of 16.257 kph in the race.
The others shortlised for the race are Asri Abdul Aziz, Mohd Sulaiman Muda, Mohd Bulkhari Rozali, Mohd T. Aseef Abdul Mutalib, Mohd Fuad Hashim, Mohd Adhwa Aziz, Azizatul Asma Abdullah, Mohd Yusran Yusuf, Muhd Faris Haikal Mohd Hassan Sa’ari, Mohd Subairi Ramly and Mohd Faris Syafiq Mohd Hassan Sa’ari.
Equestrian sport at the Sea Games will also include dressage (Aug 22 to 24) and showjumping (Aug 26 to 28) at the 3Q Equestrian Centre in Selangor.
Malaysia bagged all four gold medals in the individual and team events of dressage and showjumping at the Games in Kuala Lumpur in 2001 and Korat, Thailand, in 2007.
Equestrian Association of Malaysia vice-president Datuk Quzier Ambak, who is also the dressage and showjumping programme chairman, said the association would be relying on seasoned campaigners and youngsters to end their 10-year wait for a clean sweep.