Riders get `Ringgit' boost

11/09/2002

TENAGA Nasional Berhad (TNB) yesterday handed a RM50,000 cheque to the
Equestrian Association of Malaysia (EAM) for their Busan Asian Games
campaign.
The cheque was handed over by TNB planning, development and corporate
vice-president Datuk Mohamed Sidek Ahmad to team manager Ahmad Mustapha at
the Tenaga headquarters in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Tenaga, since the Lembaga Letrik Negara (LLN) days, has been strong
promoters of hockey and cricket, and now it is venturing keenly into
equine sports.
"The RM50,000 is a small boost to help equestrian prepare for the Asian
Games. We feel that the sport can catch up in a big way if it receives
help from corporate bodies," said Mohamed Sidek.
In Busan, all eyes will be on Qabil Ambak Mahamad Fathil, who will be
gunning for the showjumping gold.
TNB has major plans for the sport, and are set to take off when their
Tenaga Equine Club is ready.
"Construction on the Tenaga Equine Club in Bangi will be ready by next
year and we hope to promote the sport in a big way after that," said
Mohamed Sidek.
Situated near the Universiti Tenaga Nasional and Universiti Putra
Malaysia, students will benefit from the club as they will earn co-
curriculum points by joining the club.
"The plan is to get university students involved in the sport and since
the club will be situated near two major universities where co-curriculum
points are awarded to students, we are confident that a bigger pool of
enthusiasts can be produced in the near future," said Mohamed Sidek.
The public will also benefit from the club activities, as Kilat aim to
make their equine club affordable to the masses.
"Once the club is ready, the public will also be encouraged to take up
horse riding as the rates will be affordable."
The club is being built at Tenaga's reserve land. An endurance track
will head right into Putrajaya.
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