Malaysia king Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, who was earlier scheduled to compete in the equestrian event of the Doha Asiad, was confirmed on Wednesday to quit the Games due to a royal ceremony at home.

"He supposed to come but had to withdraw because he will be coronated as a king on 13 December," Abdullah Sani Karim, chef de mission of the Malaysia delegation, told Xinhua.

Sultan Mizan of Terengganu state, 44, the in-coming Yang di-Pertuan Agong (king) of Malaysia, was set to show up for the equestrian endurance as a rider, but the royal ceremony requestinghis presence forced him to quit the Doha Games.

Thus, four other riders -- Datuk Abdullah Taib, Mohd Izry Razaly, Norlaily Buniyamin and Che Mohd Apandi Muhammad -- who were selected to represent Malaysia in the team event, would also give it a miss, said Datuk Jamaludin Jarjis, president of the Equestrian Association of Malaysia (EAM).

They needed to concentrate on the Sultan's Cup, as it would be used as the yardstick to enable Malaysia to host the World Showjumping Championships in 2008, said Jarjis.

Malaysia, fourth in the Asia equestrian ranking, is expected towin medals, including the equestrian eventing in Doha.