BY AFTAR SINGH

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia swept all five gold medals in equestrian in the 2001 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.  

Now Malaysia will be out to sweep the two gold medals at stake the Games in Manila at the end of the month. (The sport was not contested at the Vietnam Games two years' ago). 

The show jumping competition, open to both men and women riders, will offer the individual and team golds.  

To get acclimatised,m the Malaysian riders and their horses left for Manila on Nov 9 to train at the competition venue in the Alabang Country Club Polo field in Muntinlupa City. 

FAVOURITE: Qabil Ambak Mohd Fathil will again lead the equestrian team in their gold medal quest.

Malaysia's challenge at the Games will be spearheaded by Qabil Ambak Mohd Fathil who won four golds in the individual and team events of the show jumping and dressage categories in the 2001 KL Games. 

Qabil was also named the best Malaysian male athlete in the KL Games for his outstanding effort. 

There are two sets of brothers in the team. Qabil and Quzier are siblings while the other pair are Syed Omar Syed Abu Bakar Almohdar and Syed Mohsin. Youngster Emma Tan Hsieh Lea is the reserve in the squad. Only four riders will compete while one will be the reserve. 

Team manager Lau Choo Seng said they have a set a high target of winning both gold medals because of the country's prowess in the sport. 

“Our riders have competed in the European league, making them the most experienced riders in the SEA Games and any one of them can deliver the gold in the individual show jumping event. 

“The European league standard is much more higher than the SEA Games and for this reason alone our riders should make a clean sweep,” he said. 

Choo Seng, who is also the secretary of the Equestrian Association of Malaysia, said that the Philippines riders will be Malaysia's main challengers. 

“The national riders who have been in Manila since Nov 9 are in high spirits and they will warm up for the Games (from Nov 27-Dec 5) by competing in the World Cup South-East Asian league which begins today,” added Choo Seng. 

All the riders have their own coaches but for the Games, Peter Winton has been named the coach. 

Besides Malaysia and the hosts, the other countries taking part are Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia.