“I am really proud to represent Indonesia. This is also the first time Indonesia participates in camel racing,” Abdillah said in a statement received here on Tuesday.
Competing in the 500-meter sprint race at Equestrian Endurance Village, he faced 16 of Asia’s top young camel racers.
Despite undergoing only 12 days of intensive training in Abu Dhabi, he finished 11th with a time of 1 minute and 6 seconds. He admitted he had not fully bonded with the camel provided by the organizers due to limited adaptation time.
“I have not fully bonded with the camel because we used the one provided here and adaptation time was limited. But this experience is invaluable. I aim to become the first Indonesian camel racing athlete to win an international gold medal,” he said.
The race, held under the scorching desert heat, was dominated by Middle Eastern athletes. Mohammed Umair Al Rashedi and Khalifa Alghfeli of the UAE finished first and second with a time of 45 seconds, followed by M. Wasmi Sultan Al Balawi from Saudi Arabia at 48 seconds.
Indonesian camel racing coach Wahyu Setiawan said Abdillah's performance marked an important milestone for the sport’s development in the country.
“Even though it’s our debut, we’re not far behind. This is significant as no Indonesian has ever competed in this sport before,” he said, adding that plans are underway for further training and participation in events across the Middle East.
Efforts are also being made to establish camel racing venues in Indonesia, aiming to grow the sport domestically.
Abdillah's participation signifies Indonesia’s expansion into unique sporting disciplines with support from the Indonesian Olympic Committee and the Camel Racing Indonesia community.
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Translator: Aditya, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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