India Create History at FEI Asian Equestrian Championship 2025 in Bangkok; Limaye Wins First Gold, Team Delivers Multiple Medals

New Delhi, Dec 3: India concluded their campaign at the FEI Asian Equestrian Championship 2025 in Pattaya, Thailand, with a historic haul of five medals, marking the nation's most successful performance at the continental event.

The championship, which began on November 23, featured India's rising strength in both Eventing and Dressage. This was only the second edition of the Asian Championship, with India having skipped the inaugural edition in 2019.

Ashish Limaye Leads India's Medal Charge in Eventing

The highlight of India's campaign came in Eventing, where TAGG (Target Asian Games Group) athlete Ashish Limaye produced a stellar performance to clinch individual gold. He also teamed up with Shashank Singh Kataria and Shashank Kanmuri to secure a silver medal in the team category.

Speaking about his performance, Limaye - who is sponsored by Embassy International Riding School (EIRS) - reflected on the emotional significance of the win. "It has been a long journey but today it all seems worth it. Especially after the last Asian Games when I was leading and had a blank moment - it felt like I had let everyone down. This feels like redemption," he said.

Limaye expressed heartfelt gratitude to those who stood by him. "I am glad that Jitu Virwani (Embassy Group) and Silva Storai (Director, EIRS) still believed in me and my efforts. It takes a village to get here. It's not just my effort - my family, my trainers Carola Bierlein and Jerome Robine, and everyone who was part of this directly or indirectly contributed to this medal. And on top of the list is my horse WILLY BE DUN!!"

Shruti Vora Shines in Dressage with Three Silvers

In Dressage, Shruti Vora emerged as one of India's top performers, picking up three silver medals - in the Individual, Intermediate Freestyle-I, and Team Dressage events.
The Dressage team, comprising Shruti Vora, TAGG athlete Divyakriti Singh, and Gaurav Pundir, secured the team silver after a consistent display across rounds.

Strong Government Support Behind India's Campaign

A 16-member Indian contingent, including six athletes, travelled to Pattaya with full financial backing from the Government of India. The Sports Ministry undertook a major logistical operation to transport and maintain 12 horses, including their air and road movement, quarantine requirements, feed and bedding, farrier care, insurance, and round-the-clock veterinary supervision for more than 40 days.

The expenditure of Rs 2.73 Crore was facilitated under the Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF) scheme, covering the contingent's travel, visas, accommodation, entry fees, mandatory veterinary tests, and essential equipment. In addition, the SAI TAGG scheme offered personalised training and horse-care support to core athletes like Ashish Limaye, Shashank Singh Kataria, and Divyakriti Singh.

Divyakriti Singh Praises TAGG Support

Dressage team silver medallist Divyakriti Singh credited institutional support for enabling consistent training and international exposure. "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," she said.

She added that challenges faced upon reaching Pattaya were resolved swiftly after coordination with her TAGG Athlete Manager and SAI representatives, allowing the athletes to remain focused on competition.

India's standout performance at the FEI Asian Equestrian Championship 2025 reflects the nation's rising potential in the sport, driven by athlete dedication, structured support systems, and world-class training environments.