KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian equestrian team claimed third place in the team category at the Endurance World Championship held in Monpazier, France, on Saturday.
According to a statement by Equestrian Association of Malaysia (EAM) honorary-secretary Datuk Yap Mou Soon, the five athletes in the team were Abdul Latif Abd Rani, Muhammad Aizad Mohd Riduan, Tengku Muhammad Syukri Tengku Mahmood, Mohd Bulkhari Rozali, Jasryn Jaffly, with Asri Abd Aziz serving as the reserve rider.
"A total of 118 riders from 39 countries participated in the championship.
"The Malaysian riders secured 20th, 22nd, and 24th positions, which placed Malaysia third globally in the team category," the statement said.
In the same statement, EAM president Syed Omar Syed Abu Bakar Almohdzar expressed that this achievement demonstrates the high potential of Malaysian riders, saying that they are comparable to their international counterparts.
"With strong teamwork, relentless effort, and guidance from experienced coaches both locally and internationally, we believe the Malaysian Endurance Team have given their best to achieve this third-place finish," he said.
The Endurance World Championship is a biennial global competition for senior riders, organised by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the world governing body for equestrian sports.