M’sian teen hits gold at world horseback archery championship

Sixteen-year-old Abdurrahman Ahmad Muaz has already achieved significant success in horseback archery at international competitions. In the sweltering heat of Ulu Yam, Malaysia, a group of teenage archers, including Abdurrahman, demonstrate their skills on horseback, releasing arrows from their bows with remarkable precision. His mother and coach, Nurul Fathim Ridayu Ramli, watches with pride.

Abdurrahman, an accomplished horseback archer, clinched a gold medal at the International Horseback Archery Masters 2026 in Erenhot, Inner Mongolia, China. This victory was particularly noteworthy, as the competition presented harsh weather conditions, including freezing temperatures and strong winds. Despite these challenges, Abdurrahman remained focused and emerged triumphant.

Horseback archery is a recent passion for Abdurrahman, who discovered the sport through his mother, who had always dreamed of horse riding. Five of his six siblings are also actively involved in the sport. Nurul Fathim, a 41-year-old mother of six, considers horseback riding and archery as Sunnah sports, which are activities associated with Islamic teachings that promote physical fitness, discipline, and perseverance.

To prepare for competitions, Abdurrahman trains rigorously, dedicating at least an hour each day to archery practice and another hour to horseback riding. For competitions, he relies on his horse Luhaif, whom he forms a strong bond with. "You should spend time with your horse, and go play or walk with them. Before an event, some people like to leave preparing their horse to others. I like to groom my horse, put on his saddle, make him feel comfortable with me," Abdurrahman said.

While horseback archery remains a niche sport in Malaysia, Abdurrahman aspires to see it gain greater popularity. He envisions owning a riding club with 20 horses and hopes that horseback archery might someday be included in the Olympics.