Edric
Lee Chin Han going through the dressage routine. Being the only one
with SEA Games experience, he is ready to lend his support to the team
that comprises first-timers to the Games.
PETALING JAYA: Edric Lee Chin Han always knew
where his future would lie the day his father took him to the Penang
Turf Club 15 years ago.
Eight-year-old Edric fell in love with horses and he has stuck to riding ever since.
Now 23, Edric, who came up through the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) system, even has a degree related to horses – equine sciene and business management, from the Marcus Oldham College in Australia.
He has also represented the country in equestrian on several occasions, with his best achievement being a silver from the team event at the 2007 Korat SEA Games and also a fourth place finish in showjumping in the 2009 Youth Olympics.
Although he took a break to complete his studies in 2009, Edric has been back since 2011 when he started working as a riding instructor at the Penang Turf Club.
Consequently, that fuelled his fire to get back into competitive equestrian where he is expected to be a crucial member of the Naypyitaw-bound SEA Games team.
“Although I did take time off to study, I didn’t really lose interest in horses ... or riding at all.
“I took a degree in horse management because I always wanted to stay in the horse business.
“When I returned from Australia in 2011, I started working at the Penang Turf Club and that was when my coach Johari (Lee) encouraged me to continue with equestrian.
“So I decided to give the qualifiers for the Games a shot, and I finished overall second from five qualifying legs.”
With his experience, Edric who will compete in both dressage and showjumping in Naypyitaw is ready to lend his support to the team that comprises of first-timers to the Games.
“This team for Naypyitaw is actually quite fresh ... I’m the only one who has competed before at the SEA Games,” said Edric.
“But they’re good riders and the team has a target of winning both the dressage and showjumping team gold.
“Basically I’m there for the team first, because the rules of the events are such that only the top scorers from the team events get into the individuals.
“Furthermore, we’ll be using a borrowed horse system in Myanmar and it really boils down to luck as we’ll have to draw lots to choose the horses.
“Ultimately it’ll be a test of the rider’s skills and I think we have the stronger riders alongside Indonesia and Thailand,” added Edric.
The others who will be joining Edric in Naypyitaw are N. Shoorendran, Praveen Nair, Shaiful Azwan, Mohd Saiful Razali, Izad Rushdi Paiza, Yap Jun Zhe and Yap Jun Xian.
They certainly need to have some luck as Malaysia have not won gold in equestrian since 2007 where they bagged four golds.
In the Jakarta Games two years ago, the team only managed a bronze, a far cry from the five gold effort back in 2001.
Eight-year-old Edric fell in love with horses and he has stuck to riding ever since.
Now 23, Edric, who came up through the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) system, even has a degree related to horses – equine sciene and business management, from the Marcus Oldham College in Australia.
He has also represented the country in equestrian on several occasions, with his best achievement being a silver from the team event at the 2007 Korat SEA Games and also a fourth place finish in showjumping in the 2009 Youth Olympics.
Although he took a break to complete his studies in 2009, Edric has been back since 2011 when he started working as a riding instructor at the Penang Turf Club.
Consequently, that fuelled his fire to get back into competitive equestrian where he is expected to be a crucial member of the Naypyitaw-bound SEA Games team.
“Although I did take time off to study, I didn’t really lose interest in horses ... or riding at all.
“I took a degree in horse management because I always wanted to stay in the horse business.
“When I returned from Australia in 2011, I started working at the Penang Turf Club and that was when my coach Johari (Lee) encouraged me to continue with equestrian.
“So I decided to give the qualifiers for the Games a shot, and I finished overall second from five qualifying legs.”
With his experience, Edric who will compete in both dressage and showjumping in Naypyitaw is ready to lend his support to the team that comprises of first-timers to the Games.
“This team for Naypyitaw is actually quite fresh ... I’m the only one who has competed before at the SEA Games,” said Edric.
“But they’re good riders and the team has a target of winning both the dressage and showjumping team gold.
“Basically I’m there for the team first, because the rules of the events are such that only the top scorers from the team events get into the individuals.
“Furthermore, we’ll be using a borrowed horse system in Myanmar and it really boils down to luck as we’ll have to draw lots to choose the horses.
“Ultimately it’ll be a test of the rider’s skills and I think we have the stronger riders alongside Indonesia and Thailand,” added Edric.
The others who will be joining Edric in Naypyitaw are N. Shoorendran, Praveen Nair, Shaiful Azwan, Mohd Saiful Razali, Izad Rushdi Paiza, Yap Jun Zhe and Yap Jun Xian.
They certainly need to have some luck as Malaysia have not won gold in equestrian since 2007 where they bagged four golds.
In the Jakarta Games two years ago, the team only managed a bronze, a far cry from the five gold effort back in 2001.
by Kng Zheng Guan - The Star
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