Dibrugarh, Feb. 1: Brisk preparations are on to prepare the equestrian endurance squad that will represent the state in the 33rd National Games, to be hosted by Assam sometime later this year.

A 12-week coaching camp for riders and horses was held here recently.

Five riders and horses were short-listed from them to represent the state in the endurance event.

The short-listed riders and horses are Basanta Singh (Shamli), Balwant Raj (Fatch), Ashok Kumar (Montana), Rajendra Kumar (Nashaman) and Obinder Singh (Max).

?The final selections will be done in September or October, when the next camp is scheduled to be held. Riders from Assam Police and Assam Rifles will also participate in the camp. We hope to field a very strong squad after that,? said Equestrian Federation of Assam secretary-general and Equestrian Federation of India vice-president (technical) Manoj Jalan.

Jalan headed the selection panel.

Assam has good medal hopes in the event. A young rider from Assam Rifles, Deben Das, bagged the gold in the national championships here in 2003.

The Assam team also won the silver in the national championships last year at Jodhpur.

That time, too, Das had teamed up with Basanta Singh, producing an impressive performance.

Coaching camps for show jumping, eventing and tent pegging will be held in February, the equestrian official added.