Germany-based Ashish Limaye and Willy Be Dun sang their redemption song with an Eventing gold medal in the FEI Asian Championships at the Thailand Polo & Equestrian Club on Wednesday. Their flawless Jumping round applied pressure on overnight leader Korntawat Samran on B Grimm Billy Elmy who dropped one fence and saw their medal change from gold to bronze.
Ashish Limaye and Willy Be Dun were eliminated from the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games competition after errors on the Cross Country course. The three-member Indian team finished outside the medal bracket. But with seamless showing in the Cross Country and Jumping tests in Pattaya, the 32-year-old Ashish Limaye and 13-year-old Willy Be Dun claimed gold. It is India’s first Eventing crown at the continental level since 1982 Asian Games when Raghubir Singh topped the charts.
There was double delight for India as the team turned in the best Jumping efforts to claim silver ahead of an error-prone Hong Kong. The Australia-based Shashank Singh Kataria on Bullseye was the other combination that delivered a flawless round for India. The UK-based youngster Shashank Kanumuri on Wellfields Casino Royale picked up only a slight time penalty.
Hong Kong, which led the charts after both Dressage and Cross Country tests, was left to rue the five dropped fences by Nicole Person on Hanerina Ssf and Owen Wong on Harthill Phantom. Even a splendid effort by Patrick Lam on Jockey Club Highdown March was not enough for the team to lift itself ahead of India.
Thailand’s team gold was only a slight balm for Korntaawat Samran’s error in the final quarter of the Jumping test. Weerapat Pitakanonda on B Grimm Carninal March was the only Thai combination among four who had a clear round on Tuesday. But the talking point would remain Korntawat Samran-B Grimm Billy Elmy combine’s only error over the past two days.
India and Ashish Limaye, in particular, were not complaining as the team ended up with five medals on appearance in the continental competition. The Shruti Vora-Magnanimous led Dressage team claimed three silver medals before the gold and silver showing by the Eventing squad.
The results:
Team: 1. Thailand 117.6; 2. India 121.8; 3. Hong Kong 122.9.
Individual: 1. Ashish Limaye (India) on Willy Be Dun 29.4; 2. Patrick Lam (Hong Kong) on Jockey Club Highdown March 30.1; 3. Korntawat Samran (Thailand) on B.Grimm Billy Elmy 32.8; 6. Shashank Singh Kataria (India) on Bullseye 37.9; 11. Shashank Kanumuri (India) on Wellfields Casino Royale 54.5.
Photos: Courtesy Embassy International
