[WEC Reports] Malaysia ready for action after two-day trial

The Star Online
October 26 2008

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian team completed a two-day trial on Saturday ahead of the FEI World Endurance Championship (WEC) with all 12 riders declared ready for the race on Nov 7.

The panel of selectors will be naming four riders for the team event while the remaining eight will contest the individual category.

The list will be announced on the eve of the race at the Terengganu International Endurance Park (TIEP) in Lembah Bidong, 30km north of Kuala Terengganu.

The team's project manager, Che Mohammad Din, said that the vet checks revealed the mounts were primed for action.

"We are placing equal emphasis on both the individual and team events, hoping to attain a creditable finish," he said.

As hosts of the 12th edition of the WEC, Malaysia are allotted 12 places. The team are spearheaded by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, who will mount Taljari Moon Pharoah.

Completing the line-up are former world number one endurance rider Kamaruddin Abdul Ghani (Navidad), Abdul Halim Alihan (Brookleigh Kentara), Bakar Aman (Almira Alborada), Norlaily Bunyamin (Bremervale Jessie James), Firdaus (Ifra Des Jamets), Shuaib Ishak (Blue Bronco), Azizie Ismail (Janor Fee), Faizal Ismail (Edenfels Zephyr), Rosdam Mohd Noor (Janor Mamatembo), Yusran Yusof (Nashaar) and Zainuddin Yusof (Texas).

Based on the latest FEI rankings as of Oct 10, the highest ranked Malaysian rider is Kamaruddin at No. 93.

The Pekan-born rider bagged the 2001 SEA Games gold medal and has competed in various international championships for the past 10 years.

Apart from undergoing training at various areas within Lembah Bidong, the riders are required to maintain their fitness through a programme designed by the National Sports Institute (NSI).

They have been undergoing a fitness programme for the past one year under the watchful eyes of several NSI staff, including former national taekwondo exponent R. Selvamuthu.

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Posted By Steph Teeter to WEC Reports at 10/28/2008 01:19:00 AM