India celebrated a historic victory as they clinched their first-ever gold medal in the team dressage event at the Asian Games. The quartet of Anush Agarwalla (Etro), Hriday Vipul Chheda (ChemXPro Emerald), Divyakriti Singh (Adrenalin Firfod), and Sudipti Hajela (Chinski) secured the top spot, outshining China and Hong Kong in Hangzhou.
Dominating Performance
India’s riders delivered an outstanding performance, with the combined scores of the top three riders totaling 209.905. Notable contributions came from Anush Agarwalla, Hriday Vipul Chheda, and Divyakriti Singh, showcasing their equestrian prowess.
This remarkable victory marks India’s 14th medal at the Asian Games, with three gold medals included. India’s last gold medal in equestrian sports was in 1982 at the New Delhi Asian Games. The last team medal in dressage for India was secured in the 1986 Asian Games when Jitendarjit Singh Ahluwalia, Ghulam Mohammed Khan, and Raghubir Singh clinched the bronze.
India continues to compete for medals in individual dressage events, with Hriday Vipul Chheda and Anush Agarwalla positioned in the top three. Jacqueline Wing Ying Siu of Hong Kong leads the pack. The individual dressage competition extends over the next two days.
In the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, India won two medals in equestrian events. Fouaad Mirza secured silver in individual eventing and was part of the silver-winning team eventing squad alongside Rakesh Kumar, Ashish Malik, and Jitender Singh.
What is Dressage?
Dressage in equestrian sports involves a series of pre-determined movements performed from memory by the horse and rider. The competition consists of individual tests, each increasing in complexity. Judges assign numeric scores to each movement, with higher percentages indicating superior performances.
The Indian team comprises dedicated riders who have trained tirelessly in Europe. Anush Agarwalla (Etro), Hriday Vipul Chheda (ChemXPro Emerald), Divyakriti Singh (Adrenalin Firfod), and Sudipti Hajela (Chinski) have left their homes at a young age to pursue their passion for equestrian sports.
Sudipti Hajela, the youngest of the quartet, emphasized the sacrifices they made while training away from their families. Anush Agarwalla from Kolkata, who left home in 2017 to train in Europe, shared the emotional moment when they realized they had won India’s first gold in dressage.
Divyakriti Singh from Jaipur acknowledged the crucial role played by their horses in their success. The victory reflects the dedication, sacrifices, and hard work of these riders and their equine partners. It is a proud moment for Indian equestrian sports.
