Asian Games 2022: Indian dressage team scripts history, clinches first gold medal in Equestrian in 41 years

Indian Equestrian team wins first medal in the event in 41 years on day 3 at the Hangzhou Games.

Indian Equestrian team (Image via Sony Sports)

Indian dressage team on Tuesday created history as they claimed India’s first gold medal in equestrian since 1982. The team comprising Anush Agarwalla, Hriday Chheda, Divyakriti Singh, and Sudipti Hajela scored a combined total of 209.205 points to stand on top of the podium, leaving second-placed China (204.882 points) way behind. This is now India’s third gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games, being held in Hangzhou, China.

India last claimed the top prize in equestrian in Asian Games in 1982, when the Games were held in New Delhi and India won as many as three gold medals in that edition. It was near perfect performance from the Indian team as with the introduction of every rider, the score improved and no team looked like they would challenge India for the top spot.

#EquestrianExcellence at the ?

After 41 long years, Team ?? clinches?in Dressage Team Event at #AsianGames2022

Many congratulations to all the team members ??#Cheer4India #HallaBol #JeetegaBharat #BharatAtAG22 ?? pic.twitter.com/CpsuBkIEAw
— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) September 26, 2023

First came Sudipti Hajela for India who scored a decent 66.706. Then Divyakriti Singh improved the team score further with a great 68.176. If that looked out to be a superb score, out came Hriday Chheda scored a brilliant 69.941, only to be topped by an astonishing score of 71.088 by Anush Agarwalla. Ultimately all four also made it to the individual final scheduled on Thursday, with Sudipti’s score not being counted for the combined team total.

FS Video

Besides having won its first gold medal in equestrian in 41 years, it was also India’s first medal in the dressage event since 1986. In 1986 Seoul Asian Games, India had clinched a bronze in the team event, and that remained India’s lone medal in this discipline until today. This also raises hopes of multiple medals to come from equestrian this time around in Hangzhou.

Eabad Ali clinches bronze in Sailing, disappointment in Cycling

The gold in equestrian was India’s third gold and 14th medal overall and India currently occupies the fifth spot along with Hong Kong, China in the medals tally. Earlier today, Eabad Ali won a bronze medal, India’s second in sailing after Neha Thakur’s silver.

Eabad Ali finished with a net score of 48 to secure third place, behind Korea’s Cho Wonwoo and Natthaphong Phonoppharat of Thailand, who claimed first and second position, respectively. It was a good comeback from the Indian sailor after an initial stutter where he was unable to finish his second and third races to give India its 14th medal in Hangzhou.

However, the cycling team had a bad day in the office as the men’s pursuit team finished seventh and last. On the other hand, men’s and women’s sprint teams were too disappointed as they finished seventh in their respective qualifications and then lost to Japan and Korea, respectively, in heats to bow out of the competition. An improved performance was expected but that was not the case with the cycling team.