THIS is the story of a sultan, a princess, a prince and a sports minister. Then there is also a horse named “Prince Charming”.
Sultan of Terengganu Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin will lead three other VVIPs in the hunt for medals in the Sea Games.
Tuanku Mizan had earlier withdrawn because his horse was not up to the mark, but made a gracious comeback when a team-mate fell ill.
Khairy Jamaluddin will be breaking new ground as the first Asean sports minister to compete in the biennial games.
He will be competing in the manly, and sometimes dangerous, polo event.
And Thailand will have Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, daughter of King Vajiralongkorn and granddaughter of the late King Bhumibol, competing in equestrian, and riding “Prince Charming”.
The princess will also grace the dressage and jumping events.
Brunei will field Faiq Bolkiah, the son of Prince Jefri Bolkiah and nephew of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah in football.
Tuanku Mizan had earlier pulled out because his horse was not fit to compete, but Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) secretary-general Datuk Low Beng Choo told Bernama that Tuanku Mizan would rejoin the equestrian endurance squad.
She said the Equestrian Association of Malaysia (EAM) had informed OCM that one of the riders in their squad fell ill and had to withdraw.
“We told them a replacement was necessary and Tuanku Mizan is available,” said Beng Choo.
Sultan Mizan is listed in the Sea Games due to his top four International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) ranking.
The sultan is a medal prospect for sure if his horse stays fit.
