Qabil and Quzandria simply a class above

QABIL Ambak Mahamad Fathil and younger sister Quzandria Nur (pic) proved to be a class above the rest as they gave Malaysia a 1-2 finish in the individual dressage competition at the Horseshoe Point and Thai Polo Club in Pattaya yesterday.

Qabil, on Dexter, took the gold medal with a score of 70.150 while Quzandria, who rode Lewes, clinched the silver on 67.250. Thailand’s Chalermcharn Yotviriyapanit, on Waldzauber, finished third on 66.200.

It was Qabil’s second gold medal of the Games after he helped Malaysia win the dressage team gold on Friday.

It was the second double for Qabil in the biennial Games after the Kuala Lumpur edition in 2001.

“I am delighted to have contributed another gold medal for the country in a major competition,” said Qabil.

“Dexter is my new horse. I only had him for a couple of months at my training base in Anaheim (Holland). But we have managed to get along well in such a short time.

“Initially in the SEA Games, we committed a few errors but as the competition wore on, we just got better.”

In the team competition, Qabil posted the second best score behind team-mate Putri Alia Soraya Ahmad Shuhaimi. But in Saturday’s qualifying session for the individual final, Qabil came out tops.

“We combined very well together again in the final with only minimal mistakes for a comfortable victory,” said Qabil.

However, Qabil has to put his celebrations on hold as he has to change his mindset quickly to compete in the show jumping event, which starts today.

Besides Qabil, the other Malaysians for the show jumping event are his elder brother, Quzier, Syazna Leena Zulhasnan and Syed Omar Almohdzar.

“It’s going to require a quick switch in riding style but it’s just something I just have to do,” said Qabil who is the defending champion for the individual competition.

Star