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This exciting announcement was made today by the FEI, Federation Equestre Internationale, at the close of the Proton KL Grand Prix 2004. The Patron of the KL Grand Prix YABhg Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad was given this thrilling news after the prize presentation at the Proton KL Grand Prix 2004.
Mr. Guilherme Sarmento, Treasurer and member of the Executive Board of the FEI, said that following the resounding success of the KL Grand Prix 2003, it was an honor indeed for FEI to award the FEI World Cup Final Jumping to the KL Grand Prix.
Breaking the duopoly held by Europe and USA, Malaysia becomes the very first Asian country to be awarded this prestigious indoor event. Malaysia has once again joined the ranks of F1 sports and made its mark, this time, in equestrian sport.
The organizer for the 2006 World Cup Final is Asiapromote Ventures Sdn Bhd (APV). The company, headed by Wan Zaleha Radzi and Peter Imran Winton, will have an agreement with FEI and the Equestrian Association of Malaysia (EAM) to organize and manage the event.
“The honor is not only ours but for all Malaysians. We have shown once again with the Proton KL Grand Prix that when all parties work together, the private sector hand-in-hand with the government sectors, nothing is impossible,” said Wan Zaleha Radzi.
“Hosting an international sporting event such as the World Cup Final, will without doubt contribute towards the Government’s efforts to promote sports tourism by attracting equestrian fans besides owners, officials, supporters and the media. It’s practically the Who’s Who in the world equestrian directory. We hope to fill the Putra Stadium which has a capacity of 10, 000,” she added.
The FEI World Cup Series was founded more than 25 years ago by Mr. Max Amman. The very first, the 1978/79 edition, had only two leagues from Europe and North America and today the FEI World Cup Series sees 13 leagues from around the globe. A total of 26 editions have been held since its inauguration and they have all been held in Europe and North America.
The most important and prestigious fixture on the calendar of the FEI, the FEI World Cup Final is the showjumping event of the year commanding a wide audience around the globe. Every year the best international riders fight to gain a qualification for the final, and South East Asia is also in the battle. In the last few editions, the FEI World Cup Final attracted 50 top riders and 100 horses from around the world.
The FEI World Cup leagues are Western Europe, USA East Coast, USA West Coast, Central Europe, Canada, South America South and Mexico, Australia, Japan, South America North, New Zealand, South East Asia, Arab and Central Asia and South Africa. The South East Asian League, created in 1997, was spearheaded by Malaysia and the countries in the League are Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Only one representative from the South East Asian League can be selected for the World Cup Final each year. Qabil Ambak is the very first Malaysian to have started in the World Cup Final in Milan this year.
Being awarded the World Cup Final is certainly a shot-in-the-arm for the future of the equestrian sports in Malaysia and Asia. This is a tremendous achievement for Malaysia.
© Copyright 2004 by SportHorseCM.com
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