India register historic success at FEI Asian Equestrian Championship
India achieved historic success at the FEI Asian Equestrian Championship in Pattaya, winning five medals. Ashish Limaye clinched gold and silver in Eventing, while Shruti Vora bagged three silvers in Dressage. Government support through TAGG and ANSF schemes boosted participation
New Delhi: India ended their campaign at the FEI Asian Equestrian Championship in Pattaya, Thailand, on Wednesday with a historic haul of five medals across Eventing and Dressage events.
In Eventing, Target Asian Games Group (TAGG) scheme athlete Ashish Limaye clinched an individual gold and a team silver alongside Shashank Singh Kataria and Shashank Kanmuri.
In Dressage, Shruti Vora emerged as the star performer, bagging three silvers — one in the individual category, another in Intermediate Freestyle I, and the third in the Dressage Team event. The Indian team, comprising TAGG athlete Divyakriti Singh, Gaurav Pundir and Shruti, secured the team silver.
“This was a very emotional win for us because the last Asian Games didn’t turn great for us. So, I think it was a huge redemption kind of feeling and a big relief,” Ashish Limaye told SAI Media.
Acknowledging his horse, Ashish added: “My horse Willy Be Dun is a 13-year-old Anglo-European. It would have been impossible to bag this gold without him because he really fought for us and was always giving 100 per cent.”
A 16-member Indian delegation (including six athletes, six grooms, two coaches, and one vet and farrier each) travelled to Pattaya at full cost to the government.
The expenditure, amounting to Rs 2.73 crore, was provided through the Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF) scheme, covering travel, visas, insurance, boarding and lodging, entry fees, mandatory veterinary tests, and essential equipment.
“Equestrian is an expensive sport, and to have the Government of India helping us financially through schemes like TAGG and TOPS makes things a lot easier,” Divyakriti told SAI Media.
“As a TAGG athlete, I was able to successfully compete in Europe all year long with my horses and finally end the year with a silver at the Asian Championships.”