KUALA LUMPUR: The Zakaria siblings, Nur Qasrina Amani and Muhd Yusuf Luqman are eager to qualify for the 2020 World Junior Endurance Championship in San Rossore, Italy.
Nur Qasrina was in the Malaysian team as a reverse for the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games in August and the experience helped her gained confidence.
"I may have been on the reserve list for the Sea Games, but it was not easy to even make the cut. It felt special to be the youngest member in the team," said the 16-year-old Qasrina, who together with Yusuf completed the 50km race at the Inspector General of Police-Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Endurance Championships in Serdang on Saturday.
For Qasrina, it was her first outing in the event, but for younger brother Yusuf, it was his second since making his debut last year.
"It's never easy in an endurance race. It's usually broken up into loops.
"I think I did better this year. When we look at endurance races, it's not about how fast you finish the race, but rather finishing it, above all other things," said Yusuf, a two star rider.
The brother-sister duo, who train at the Benua Equestrian Stable (BEST), are also hoping to come good, and represent KL at the Malaysia Games, should the event be contested.
"Apart from trying to qualify for the World Junior Endurance Championship, we hope that one day we will also represent the country at major events," added Yusuf.
They will next compete in next year’s Menteri Besar Cup in Bidong.