Training across borders: How Singapore’s horseback archers hone their skills

This audio is generated by an AI tool.

Mr Shalihin Ahmaddullah, 33, first picked up horseback archery 11 years ago when he was working as a stable hand in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

“In that moment, nothing else matters. It’s just you, the horse and the target,” said the system analyst, sharing his experience of galloping on a horse handsfree, all while trying to shoot an arrow at a target.

Mr Syed Idrus, 32, describes a similar experience, saying it is the adrenaline that keeps him hooked.

Their skills have taken them to the World Nomad Games, where they compete alongside athletes from around the world in traditional sports rooted in nomadic cultures.

The most recent iteration of the Games, held every two years, was in Kyrgyzstan in late August and early September this year.

Training in Singapore, however, presents a challenge. While archery and horse riding can be practised separately here, there are no dedicated facilities combining them. The riders need to travel to Johor Bahru to train. “We have to be creative and smart when it comes to our training,” said Mr Ahmaddullah.

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这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

33岁的沙利欣·艾哈迈杜拉先生11年前在马来西亚柔佛州新山做马厩工人时，第一次接触到了骑射。

“在那一刻，其他一切都不重要了。只有你、马和靶子，”这位系统分析师分享了他骑马飞奔、双手不放在缰绳上，同时还要试图射箭击中靶子的经历时说道。

32 岁的 Syed Idrus 先生描述了类似的经历，他说正是肾上腺素让他上瘾。

他们的技能使他们得以参加世界游牧民族运动会，在那里他们与来自世界各地的运动员一起参加源于游牧文化的传统体育项目。

每两年举办一次的这项赛事，最近一届于今年8月下旬至9月初在吉尔吉斯斯坦举行。

然而，在新加坡进行训练却面临挑战。虽然射箭和骑马在这里可以分别练习，但并没有专门的综合训练场地。骑手们需要前往新山进行训练。“我们在训练方面必须发挥创造力，并采取巧妙的策略，”艾哈迈杜拉先生说道。

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