India won a Gold medal in equestrian for the first time since 1982 at the Asian Games. Indian team topped the Team Dressage event with a total score of 209.205 while China finished with Silver with 204.882 and Hong Kong China finished at the 3rd spot with 204.852.
The Indian team of Sudipti Hajela (Chinski - horse name), Hriday Vipul Chheda (Chemxpro Emerald), Anush Agarwalla (Etro), and Divyakriti Singh (Adrenalin Firfod) scripted history by winning India's first Gold medal in a Dressage event in equestrian. Only the top 3 performers score were considered for the team's overall score in the Dressage Team event.
Anush Agarwalla's score of 71.088 was a sensational performance as he went last and lifted India's medal hopes. India comfortably finished above China to clinch the Gold medal, following up the two silvers won in Asian Games 2018.
It was only India's fourth Gold medal in equestrian at the Asian Games and their 13th medal overall in the event. All of 3 India's Gold medals in Equestrian came in the 1982 Asian Games in Delhi. Raghubir Singh won the Individual Eventing Gold while India also won Team Eventing Rupinder Singh Brar won a Gold medal in individual tent pegging. With his performance on Tuesday, Anush Agarwalla and his horse Etro moved to the 2nd spot in the individual Dressage event, which will continue over 3 days.Vipul Hriday Chheda and his horse Chemxpro Emerald are in the 3rd spot in Dressage Individual.
MORE ABOUT EQUESTRIAN DRESSAGE EVENT
Equestrian Dressage is undeniably a captivating spectacle that combines artistic expression with sheer riding mastery. However, it's in the Team Event where this discipline truly shines, offering audiences a mesmerizing display of harmony between horses and riders. The essence of the Dressage Team Event lies not only in technical prowess but also in the impeccable synchronization and unity shown by the team members.
In the Equestrian Dressage Team Event, typically three or four riders from each nation compete, with their individual scores being aggregated to form the team's total score. At the heart of this lies the principle of collective effort and shared victory. The competition involves executing a series of intricate movements and techniques, judged under the keen scrutiny of qualified dressage experts.
The beauty of the Equestrian Dressage Team Event is in its intricacy and precision. Riders perform maneuvers such as half-pass, pirouette, extended gait, piaffe, and passage among others. The horse's responsiveness and obedience to the rider's commands, the fluidity and flexibility of its movements, and its overall performance highlight the result of an intense training regime and an evident relationship built on trust and understanding.
The team event yet adds another level of complexity as every member must perform their individual dressage tests seamlessly, contributing to the overall team score.