Japan's 74-year-old equestrian rider aims for Olympic berth

TOKYO (AP) Japan's 74-year-old equestrian rider Hiroshi Hoketsu is aiming to compete at the 2016 Olympics.

Hoketsu, who represented Japan at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, has applied for a qualifying trial for the Games in Rio de Janeiro, the Japan Equestrian Federation said Thursday.

Hoketsu was the oldest athlete to take part in the 2012 London Games at 71. If he secures a place on Japan's equestrian team for Rio it will be his fourth Olympics.

He will be looking to win one of four spots available for Japan in trials in May and June when 11 riders will compete, the federation said.

Hoketsu will have to achieve certain scores in two tournaments before heading into the qualifying to meet criteria set by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports.