India record double podium finish, Iran claim top spot in Asian Equestrian Federation Cup CSIY-B standings

Indian riders Surya Aditya and Avik Bhatia secured the silver and bronze medals at the Asian Equestrian Federation Cup CSIY-B division.

India celebrated a double podium finish in the overall standings at the Asian Equestrian Federation Cup – Youth CSIY-B, held at Surge Stable in Bangalore. Indian riders Surya Aditya and Avik Bhatia secured the silver and bronze medals, respectively, while Iran’s Yazdan Mollaafzal took the top spot, displaying consistency and precision across both rounds.

Surya, who had earlier secured the silver medal in Round 1 on Saturday, maintained his strong form to claim the overall silver in the competition. Meanwhile, 16-year-old Avik made an outstanding comeback after finishing eighth in Round 1 by grabbing silver in Round 2. His impressive performance in Round 2 helped him secure the bronze in the overall standings.

Double Podium Finish for India! 🇮🇳🥈🥉Surya Aditya clinches the silver, Avik Bhatia takes bronze, while Iran’s Yazdan Mollaafzal secures gold at the AEF Cup CSIY-B! 🏇✨#AEFCup2024 #AEFCSIYB #EquestrianIndia #FEI #EFI pic.twitter.com/Q5i7c1DeK8

— Equestrian Federation Of India (@Efi_India) October 13, 2024

Avik completed a clean jumping run in 86.43 seconds, which was faster than Iran’s Yazdan Mollaafzal, but penalties incurred for touching obstacles during the jump-off affected his final placement.

On Day 2, Avik initially led the jumping event, but it was Yazdan Mollaafzal who ultimately claimed the gold medal with a flawless, penalty-free performance in the jump-off, clocking in at 60.32 seconds. Cambodian rider Menglong Rinda completed the podium in Round 2, finishing the course in 79.58 seconds with 4 penalty points.

The final overall standings saw Surya and Avik secure second and third place, respectively, marking a proud achievement for India.

“This double podium finish is great news for Indian equestrians. Both Surya Aditya and Avik Bhatia demonstrated exceptional determination and skill while competing against top international and experienced riders.

“Their achievements reflect the promising future of Indian equestrian sports, and we are confident that they will continue to excel with bold and technically sound performances,” said Colonel Jaiveer Singh, Secretary of the Equestrian Federation of India.

Also Read: Asian Equestrian Federation Youth Cup: India’s Surya Aditya wins silver in obstacle course

Out of the 12 riders who began the competition, 11 participated in Round 2, as Kuwait’s Madhy A A H Alkhamis withdrew from the event. Riders from Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and 

Chinese Taipei—Muhammad Khan Niazi, Taisiya Lokteva, and Asato Amami—were eliminated over the two days for not completing their respective rounds.

Hong Kong’s Fabiola Chong and Thailand’s Papungkorn Pabbamnam placed fifth and sixth, respectively, with Myanmar’s Kyaw Wana Aung and Malaysia’s Muhammad Nazirul Amsyar following closely behind in the overall rankings.

The Asian Equestrian Federation Cup CSIY-B, returning to India after 14 years, featured top riders from 11 nations showcasing their skills at Bengaluru’s state-of-the-art Surge Stable from October 11 to 13.

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