Asian Games 2023: Anush Agarwalla bags India's first-ever bronze in individual dressage event

Anush Agarwalla clinched a bronze medal in the individual dressage event of the equestrian event (Pic: @SAI_Media/X)

Anush Agarwalla won India's first-ever individual medal in the in the dressage competition of the equestrian event at the ongoing Asian Games on Thursday. Astride Etro, Agarwalla scored 73.030 to finish third and claimed his second medal of the tournament.

Bin Mahamad Fathil Mohd Qabil Ambak of Malaysia won the gold with a total score of 75.780, while Jacqueline Wing Ying Siu of Hong Kong bagged the silver medal scoring 73.450.

The other Indian in fray, Hriday Vipul Chheda, who topped the qualifying on Wednesday, was eliminated and did not feature in the medal competition. Earlier, Agarwalla had teamed up with Chheda, Divyakriti Singh and Sudipti Hajela to win the dressage team gold after 41 years.

In qualifying, Hriday topped the charts with a total score of 73.883, while Anush astride his horse ETRO secured a fourth-spot finish with a total score of 71.706. to advance to the final. Divyakriti Singh was also in the mix but ended up falling short of the qualifying mark as she finished in the 11th spot with a total score of 67.676.

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Earlier, the Indian team comprising Anush, Hriday, Divyakriti and Sudipti registered a huge score of 209.205 in the Team Dressage to win gold.

Anush Agarwalla and his horse ETRO scored the maximum score at 71.088 while Hriday Chheda-Emerald scored 69.941. Divyakriti Singh-Adrenalin Firdod scored 68.176. Sudipti Hajela-Chinski scored 66.706.

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India finished with a score of 209.205 which was significantly higher than second-placed China's 204.882. Anush Agarwalla stole the show with a score of 71.088 while Hriday scored 69.941 and Divyakriti scored 68.176. Together, they ensured that no team even comes close to their combined score.

(With agency inputs)