6 min readHangzhouSep 27, 2023 07:47 AM IST
First published on: Sep 26, 2023 at 04:43 PM IST
Before they galloped to the top of the podium, they had to hop over innumerable hurdles. The ‘pain’ of selling a house to fund careers, getting mocked at fund-raising meetings and doors getting shut, and nearly missing the Asiad because of federation policies.
On a day of surprise silver and consolation bronze medals — both in sailing — India struck gold in an event the country has had no success in decades and didn’t even have a team at the last Asian Games.
Sudipti Hajela, Divyakriti Singh, Hriday Chheda and Anush Agarwalla weren’t even born when India last won a gold medal in equestrian or even when the country won a medal (a bronze) in their event, dressage.
But the riders, all in their early 20s, worked in harmony with their horses to defy all odds and surpass even their own expectations. It was India’s first Asian Games gold in equestrian since 1982 and the first medal in dressage after 1986, when the country won a bronze. And the path to this historic podium finish was littered with challenges.
“Everyone made a lot of sacrifices. But the whole journey makes a lot of sense now,” Divyakriti, 23, said. Sudipti, the youngest member of the team at 21, added: “The good thing was all of us were in it together. We wore blinkers and kept going.”
They are all self-funded, have lived away from their families for years, are based at stables in far-off villages in foreign lands, overcame personal disappointments and fought court battles just to reach Hangzhou.
Away from all the attention, the quartet came here without any hopes but like artistic gymnastics, where athletes have to perform moves as per pre-determined difficulty levels, the riders and their horses displayed high levels of flexibility, athleticism and obedience to stun home-favourites China, heavyweights Japan and South Korea.
“This is a landmark moment for equestrian in India,” said Arjuna Awardee and three-time Asiad medallist Rakesh Pattu. “To beat China in China, and in an event like dressage is a huge achievement. More so, because of everything all these riders had to go through – from lack of funding to the selection issues with the federation.”
The gold comes at a high price. Quite literally.
Roughly 18 months ago, Divyakriti’s father Vikram had to sell the family home in Jaipur just so that she could continue training. With the money they got from the deal, the family bought two horses in Europe where Divyakriti continues to train.
Hangzhou: India’s Hriday Vipul Chheda, Anush Agarwalla, Divyakriti Singh and Sudipti Hajela pose for photographs after winning the gold medal in the Equestrian Dressage Team event at the 19th Asian Games, in Hangzhou, China, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023. (PTI Photo/Gurinder Osan)(PTI09_26_2023_000381B)
“It was painful because that was the only house we had in Jaipur. But I did it so I could buy two horses for my daughter so she could train and excel for India. That’s what this medal means for us,” Vikram told The Indian Express.
He wasn’t the only one who was left with a gaping hole in his pocket. The families of each of the other three riders have spent between Rs 3 to 5 crores approximately, Vikram added.
Due to the lack of facilities at home, all four riders are based in Europe, where they have had to purchase horses and take care of their stabling as well as their own living expenses along with coaching fees and competition costs.
“There was no help from anyone. Not a rupee. We all have had to spend from our own pockets,” Vikram said. “Wherever we went to ask for funds, we would be mocked. They said the dressage team has never won a medal so the money was better spent on the eventing team. Each one of us, the other three parents, too, have sacrificed a lot and spent crores of rupees.”
The dressage team took shape only in the last couple of years after the riders, astride their respective horses, consistently took part in competitions across Europe and achieved respectable finishes.
Yet, the Equestrian Federation of India’s unclear selection policies meant they weren’t aware until the last minute whether they would compete in Hangzhou. It was only after they approached the Delhi High Court this year that their entries got confirmed.
The uncertainty didn’t get to them in the build-up to the Games. It was only after Anush Agarwalla, astride his stallion Sir Caramello Old, finished his act that all-but-sealed the gold medal for India that the enormity of the occasion sunk in.
“Four years ago, I wasn’t good enough to even make it to the Asian Games and we didn’t even have a team in dressage,” Agarwalla said. “Now, we are the champions. It is very emotional.”
Gold medallist Indian team poses for photos during the presentation ceremony of equestrian dressage team event at the 19th Asian Games, in Hangzhou, China, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023. (PTI) 
Hangzhou: India’s Hriday Vipul Chheda, Anush Agarwalla, Divyakriti Singh and Sudipti Hajela pose for photographs after winning the gold medal in the Equestrian Dressage Team event at the 19th Asian Games, in Hangzhou, China, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023. (PTI Photo/Gurinder Osan)(PTI09_26_2023_000381B)
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