Asian Games: India win gold in equestrian after 41 years
In a historic development for the sport of equestrian in India, as the Dressage team clinched the gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games. The team comprising Sudipti Hajela, Divyakriti Singh, Hriday Chheda and Anush Agarwalla were exceptional and finished with a score of 209. 205 to pip China and Hong Kong for the elusive gold. The quartet created history at the Asiad.
India's first gold in 41 years at the Asian Games
This is India's first-ever gold medal in the equestrian Dressage event. However, this is India's first medal in equestrian in 41 years. Raghubir Singh, in the 1982 Asian Games, won the gold medal in the equestrian eventing individual event. The last medal in the equestrian dressage team event was a bronze that India won in the 1986 edition.
Indian came from behind to take away the gold
The Indian team staged a sensational comeback as it dropped to third at the start. It was Anush and his horse Etro, who started the push and others also joined in to move forward, taking away the gold medal. Anush and his horse Etro scored 71.088, Chheda and Emerald scored 69.941, Divyakriti and Adrenalin Firdod got 68.176, while Sudipti and Chinski secured 66.706.
Fouaad Mirza bagged two silver medals in 2018 Asian Games
India won two equestrian silver medals in the 2018 Asian Games. Fouaad Mirza secured silver in individual eventing and also followed it up with another silver in team eventing where Mirza was accompanied by Rakesh Kumar, Ashish Malik, and Jitender Singh.
More on Equestrian Dressage event
Equestrian Dressage is an event that involves artistry and sheer riding mastery. It displays the discipline and harmony between the horses and their riders. In Dressage, three or four riders from one country compete, but the top three individual scores are aggregated to form the team's total score. The event involves intricate movements and techniques and is judged by veteran Dressage experts.
Dressage event involves camaraderie between the horse and their rider
Intricacy and precision are of prime importance in the Dressage event. The riders and their horses move through half-pass, pirouette, extended gait, piaffe, and passage among other obstacles. Points are given on how smoothly the horse and their riders maneuver through these obstacles. Also, the flexibility and fluidity of the horse's movement are taken into account. Team event makes it even more complex.
