The Youth and Sports Minister has reportedly made the shortlist of 12 players, named by the Royal Malaysian Polo Association (RMPA) for further selection for the national squad for the 2017 SEA Games, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur.
This was revealed to Astro Awani by Putra Polo Club President Mohamad Norza Zakaria yesterday.
“The 12 players shortlisted include Khairy Jamaluddin, and also some local professional polo players who represented the country at the SEA Games in Korat Thailand in 2007,” Norza said of the last time that the sport was part of the SEA Games.
Norza, who is also the deputy president of the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM), added that Khairy qualified for the shortlist on merit, based on the criteria set by the RMPA.
“I believe that the team selected will be the best team and also have the capability to defend the gold medal, which we won in 2007,” Norza was quoted as saying by Awani.
Khairy will be participating in the Malaysian Open Polo Tournament, as captain of the Jogo Polo team, at the Putrajaya Equestrian Park from Oct 10-23. There will be seven teams competing at the tournament.
Polo, which is also popularly referred to as the “sport of kings”, is played by two teams, with four riders on their horses in either side.
The 2017 SEA Games will be held in Kuala Lumpur from Aug 19-30 next year.