THE unpredictable weather in Japan hampered the final preparations of Malaysia's dressage rider Diani Lee Cheng Ni as she got off to a slow start in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games equestrian competition.
Dani, astride Sam 1108, was placed last in the field of 43 participants, scoring 56.677 in the first part of qualifiers.
Coach Mohd Qabil Ambak said the changing weather had forced adjustments to Diani and her horse’s training schedule, with some sessions postponed because of rain.
"The weather keeps changing, so our training times have had to change frequently. That also affects the horse.
"Sometimes it rains and then it gets windy. The horse can be fine at times, but can also start to react to the conditions.
"Horses can get nervous in strong winds or heavy rain, and that makes them difficult to control. Hopefully, she will be calmer after this," said Qabil, who won the individual dressage gold for Malaysia at the last 2022 Asian Games edition in Hangzhou.
Diani is returning to action at the Asian Games after last participating in the 2010 edition in Guangzhou, where she won bronze as part of the dressage team.
Only the top 15 riders after the second part of qualifying round will advance to the individual final on Sunday (Spet 27).
