Fifteen-year-old Sharifah Ariel Budriah Jamalullail’s stunning victory in Manama, Bahrain, has forced an uncomfortable question: Why are Malaysia’s young riders achieving international glory with so little help from the system meant to nurture them? “We push our children because no one else will, ”Sharifah Ariel’s mother, Che Puan Temenggong Perlis Datin Seri Farinawati Mohamat Din, said, without hiding her frustration.
Her daughter’s historic gold should mark a turning point, yet she fears it will be treated as a one-day headline just like the achievements of countless niche athletes before her.
“These children are young. If we don’t push them now, who will continue the sport in 10 years? We need the ministries to step up. We (parents) are committed, but we cannot do this alone.” Her message is raw: parents can only carry the burden for so long.
She sees other nations such as China and South Korea aggressively grooming their youth riders while Malaysia’s future stars fight uphill battles with limited facilities, slow pathways and inconsistent support.
“Talent is not the problem. The system is,” she said, pointing out the painful truth most parents know too well.
“Equestrian is niche, but it is the only sport (at AYG) that brought home a gold medal.” She recalls how rider Mohd Qabil Ambak waited two decades to claim his Asian Games gold and much of it self-funded.
Her fear? That Malaysia will force the next generation to suffer the same fate.
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