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Bernama.com.my

September 08, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (Bernama)-- The names of 12 riders who will represent the country in the Federation Equestrian Internationale (FEI) World Endurance Championship to be staged at the Lembah Bidong, Setiu in Terengganu will be announced on October 1.

The National Sports Institute (ISN) director general Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz said 16 riders have qualified for the prestigious event, scheduled from Nov 6 to 9 but only 12 will be selected.

"All 16 will undergo centralised training from Oct 15 to beef up their team spirit, physical and mental strength," Dr Ramlan told reporters here Monday.

Ramlan added that the Selection Committee has set a number of criterias for the riders as well as their horses to ensure that they will be in the right condition for the gruelling race.

"In addition to horses that riders already have, we have also bought 13 horses from overseas at a cost of about RM2 million," he said.

Dr Ramlan said the horses which arrived early this month are to be quarantined for a period of four weeks before exposing them to the local conditions and weather.

The Malaysian team competing in the 160km race will be spearheaded by non other than the country's number one sportsman, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.

So far 26 countries have confirmed their participation and from the total, 24 countries will compete in the team event and 12 in the individual event.

The list of riders who have qualified for the FEI World Endurance Championship on merit are Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, Datuk Kamaruddin Abd Ghani, Datuk Shuib Isahak, Datuk Abdullah Taib, Mohd Faizal Ismail, Rosdam Mohd Noor, Che Ahmad Yusri Muhamad, Muhammad Alif Sabidi, Yusran Yusof, Zainuddin Yusof, Md Rino Abd Rani, Abdul Halim Alihan, Bakar Aman, Norlaily Buniyamin, Muhammad Firdaus Hamid and Md Aizie Ismail.

-- BERNAMA

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Posted By  Merri  to  Endurance Riding: News  at  9/09/2008 09:38:00 AM