Sultan Mizan breaks SEA Games record, makes nation proud

It was the pride of the nation and people. Terengganu Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin and the horse "Rtes Annaversary" not only succeeded in winning gold in the individual category endurance race in the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games but also set a new games record.

Donning the jersey number 111, the Sultan began the 80-kilometer race at the Terengganu International Endurance Park (Tiep) in Lembah Bidong, Setiu, Terengganu and broke the record three hours earlier to complete the race.

Sultan Mizan, who arrived at the finishing line at 8.18am with a time of three hours 48 minutes and 38 seconds, broke the Malaysian athlete’s record of six hours and 26 minutes achieved by Mohd Sulaiman Muda at the 2013 SEA Games in Myanmar.

The average speed was 20.994 kilometres per hour.

What was even more special was that it was the first time that the sultan was competing in the history of the SEA Games.

In an exclusive interview with Bernama after the race, Sultan Mizan expressed gratefulness and happiness and described the success as a result of the cooperation of everyone.

The ruler also shared his familiarity with the horse from Australia and happily explained that the suitability of their ‘partnership’ for the past eight years had enabled them to achieve several victories at various world championships earlier.

In preparation for the championship, the Sultan had trained every day without taking for granted every challenge to be faced although the Tiep was like a ‘playground’ for him.

“In order to participate in the event, several points had to be taken into consideration before being selected to represent Malaysia...the desire to represent the nation came by coincidence as I too had indulged in the sport,” he said.

The Ruler also shared his recipe throughout the race, filling up the time conversing with the other Malaysian athletes as they were always together since the start.

“I am thankful to Allah that everyone was safe and the event was held in the state of Terengganu, and had received public response,” the sultan said.

In addition, he congratulated the Malaysian team as well as team manager Che Mat Din Ismail, all the riders, the groom crew, veterinary assistant, the farrier and everyone who had worked hard for the success of his team.

Malaysia also won the gold medal in the team category.

The icing on the cake was that they also set a new games record, which was also previously held by the Malaysian endurance horse racing team.

Sultan Mizan said that in May next year, Terengganu would hold the Asian Endurance Cup Cham[pionship and he hoped to make Terengganu as the venue for the World Junior Endurance Championship in future.

The Ruler also thanked the state government for supporting the efforts to create the endurance sport in the state.

- Bernama