Delhi ends campaign with five gold

The 28-year-old rider from Delhi capped his master performance at the competitions bagging the gold in the show jumping, a little after adding a bronze too to his kitty by being a part of the Delhi quartet which came third in the tent pegging (Team) competitions. Bhinder astride his 11-year-old chestnut colt Pharoah commenced Sunday’s gold hunt in style, by emerging the only rider in the field of 17 to clear all obstacles without a fault in the elimination round. He went into the second round as the last rider with reigning National champ and team mate Ms.Anisha Sodhi astride Tiger Snow and Capt. Ajay Duggal astride Mater from Assam breathing down his neck with just five faults. Olympian Wng.Cdr.I S Lamba astride Karishma from Haryana and Maj. A J Singh riding Zorba representing Uttar Pradesh were a little behind with 80 faults.

However, Anisha Sodhi, nursing a high fever, and Capt.Duggal put themselves out of contention with dismal performances during the final round recording 9.75 and 17 faults respectively to take their overall tally from the two rounds to 14.75 and 22. Sure to secure a gold even if he did not have a clear run despite mounting pressure, Bhinder clinched the issue recording just four faults to exhibit laudable poise and composure. In the jump off for the silver and bronze Maj.A J Singh performed better with just Four faults against Wng.Cdr.Lamba’s 12 to decide the silver in his favour. Both had tied for the second and third positions after the elimination and final rounds with 12 faults each, necessitating a tie breaker through a jump off.An Asian Games probable, Bhinder, whose personal medal tally at the current Games read three golds, a silver and a bronze, attributed his best performance ever in any competition to the useful tips he recieved from French Coach Peire De Gopil, a few days before the Games at a camp organised for the probables.

Earlier, in the Tent Pegging Team competitions the Punjab quartet of Insp. Satpal Singh (astride Jaimala), SI Jagdish Singh (riding Nisha), ASI Jaswinder Singh (astride Mehta) and HC Jasvir Singh (riding Chameli) bagged the gold scoring 87.50 points over Rajasthan’s 82.50. Delhi bagged the bronze with a tally of 74.50 points.