The panel of selectors will be naming four riders for the team event, while the remaining eight will contest in the individual category.
Follow me: Selvamuthu (right) giving pointers to the members of the national endurance squad, among them Norlaily Bunyamin, Firdaus Hamid, Bakar Aman, Faizal Ismail and Datuk Shuaib Ishak.
Malaysia’s WEC 2008 Athlete Preparation Project Manager, Che Mohammad Din, said 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,” said Che Mohammad Din.
As hosts of the 12th edition of the WEC, Malaysia has been allotted 12 places, with four contesting the team event.
The Malaysian team will be spearheaded by Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, who will mount Taljari Moon Pharoah.
Completing the line-up are former World No 1 endurance rider, Datuk Kamaruddin Abdul Ghani (Navidad), Abdul Halim Alihan (Brookleigh Kentara), Bakar Aman (Almira Alborada), Norlaily Bunyamin (Bremervale Jessie James), Firdaus (Ifra Des Jamets), Datuk 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, 2008, the highest ranked Malaysian rider is Awang Kamaruddin at 93rd.
The Pekan-born rider bagged the 2001 SEA Games gold medal and has competed in various international tournaments 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 (ISN).
They have been undergoing a fitness programme for the past one year under the watchful eye of several ISN staff, including former national taekwondo exponent R. Selvamuthu.