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Nafis nails Sukma Gold
Thursday, June 5th, 2008
Report and photos by Peter Ibrahim Abisheganaden
Syed Kamil Nafis won the biggest title of his jumping career when the 17 year old won the gold medal for individual showjumping at the SUKMA XII Games in Kuala Terengganu yesterday. Riding ARL’s Xulana Cheyenne, the young Penangite rode a 4 fault first round over the 11 fence course, then jumped a clear in the second round. He had to wait till the last rider had gone before finding out he had made the jump-off for the gold medal against Faten Nurain Syakira and Jimmy Chow.
Syakira had also jumped 4 and 0 with Jimmy Chow in the first two rounds. Syakira and Jummy Chow were first into the arena for the jump-off. An early fence put paid to their chances, but they were quick otherwise.
Nafis chose to go for the clear round in the jump-off, sacrificing a quick time. He held his nerve to jump clear to win the gold medal. It was the second showjumping gold medal for the unfancied Penang team, having won the team jumping gold the day before.
Syakira was ecstatic with the silver medal for Kedah as it was in the face of stern competition from the Wilyah and Selangor teams.
Md Zulfikar Md Rahami perservered to win the bronze medal for Terengganu with an 8 fault total with Sooty.
Sixteen riders started the individual final. There were four eliminations in the first round as the riders struggled to cope with their nerves and the 1.00 m course. Inexperience led to riders taking the wrong course, almost forgetting the track, and even falls.
Perak riders Reuven Ravindra and Shastri Thiru got their thoroughbreds around the course, but at a cost of 20 and 8 faults respectively. Mohamed Aminuddin and Geronimo might have been contenders had he not lost his way on course, then rushing to make up time.
Five riders had 8 penalties in the first round. Three were MSN boys Nabil Fikri Ismail, Mohd Aizat and Edric Lee. The other two were Shastri and Zulfikar.
Three riders, Syed Kamis Nafis, Sykaira and Natasha Ines, were tied on 4 faults, behind first round leader Raja Nazeem Iskandar with Cookie N Cream.
The nerves were better settled in the second round, which most riders found much easier. Syakira and Syed Nafis both went clear. Nastasha and Starwickie had been jumping very well throughout the games but this time came up short. Raja Nazeem and Cookie N Cream had the tournament at their mercy as the last rider in the second round but the warmblood had had enough by the time they headed to the triple bar.
It brought on the two horse jump-off for gold and silver. Syed Nafis knew that Xulana Cheyenne had jumped SEA League World Cups before, so the 1.10 m course wasn’t going to test the mare’s scope. He correctly chose to go for the clear round after Syakira had put the pressure on with a quick but 4-fault round with Jimmy Chow.
Nafis has been training with Johari Lee at the Penang Turf Club equestrian centre for about 9 years. He was sponsored Xulana Cheyenne by ARL earlier this year, with the SUKMA Games in mind. Penang team trainer Johari Lee said the mare was reputedly a little difficult to ride at first and soundness was at first a concern. He was delighted that Nafis persevered with the horse.
Nafis had a good dressage competition as well. The Mitavite sponsored rider just missed out on a bronze medal with Astraphy.
Johari said Penang was elated to have won another gold medal, their second in equestrian sports at these games. They upset the big boys from Selangor and Wilayah again, to prove their team gold in showjumping was was no fluke. Congratulations to Johari Lee, Nafis and the whole Penang team.
Report and photos by Peter Ibrahim Abisheganaden
It brought on the two horse jump-off for gold and silver. Syed Nafis knew that Xulana Cheyenne had jumped SEA League World Cups before, so the 1.10 m course wasn’t going to test the mare’s scope. He correctly chose to go for the clear round after Syakira had put the pressure on with a quick but 4-fault round with Jimmy Chow.