00:00Happening now at the Prime Minister Cup's CSI One Star is the fourth of five SEA Games Equestrian Qualifier Rounds, presented by Tokyo Auto Salon KL and Lexis Malaysia.
00:15Equestrian events have long been part of the Southeast Asian Games, and our country's riders have proudly won numerous medals, including 20 golds over the years.
00:25Unfortunately, Malaysia has not taken home any prizes for equestrian events since 2017.
00:32Could this be the year we break our dry spell?
00:35The 33rd SEA Games are set to take place this December in Thailand, with each country's equestrian team comprising four riders.
00:46The 33rd SEA Games are set to take place this December in Thailand, with each country's equestrian team comprising four riders.
01:00On July 25-27, around 100 riders took part in the Prime Minister Cup, jointly organised by the Equestrian Association of Malaysia and the Kuala Lumpur Polo Club.
01:13With this event being the second-to-last qualifying round, the participants included riders who went head-to-head or horse-to-horse to see who might clinch a spot on our national team.
01:24Five riders took part in the qualifiers held over two rounds, watching them show jump over heights of 60 to 130 centimeters, made for an intense, nail-biting spectacle.
01:37Emerging on top was 19-year-old Haris Kamaluddin and his horse, Replay, the only competitor to complete both rounds with zero jump faults, such as knocking down rails.
01:49At first, I was really nervous, and I was just walking around outside the course, and I was looking at the course, trying to get myself together and connect with my horse and tell him that everything is okay, and we managed to do it.
02:06It felt really great. Yeah, and this is the fourth qualifier, and this is my first time getting first place, so it's a really great feeling.
02:16Coming in second was 48-year-old Noreen Ira Dewal-Ali with her horse, Pavelina.
02:23So firstly, I love the animal. Beautiful, gorgeous, generous animal.
02:30And I think when I ride, I ride for the sport, yes, but really I love the horse, and I really care for the welfare of my horses.
02:42Even though, you know, I ride and they compete with me alongside me, their welfare is the most important thing.
02:49So really, it's the animal.
02:52Having started riding as a child, Noreen, a mother and a lawyer, now stands as an inspiration as she vies for her SEA Games debut.
03:01I'd like, obviously, qualification for the team is number one, I think. I hope I can do that, and I'll try my best.
03:13All in all, it was a hot and exciting day at the Kuala Lumpur Polo Club, witnessing not only the grace of Belgian horses,
03:20but also the breathtaking cars courtesy of Tokyo Auto Salon KL.
03:25Now, we just have to wait and see which riders will ultimately represent Malaysia at the Games in Thailand this December.
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