Equestrian Federation of India has chosen to overlook the Delhi High Court-appointed Observer SY Quraishi’s directive to stop violating its own technical rules in the conduct of the sport.
A perusal of the results of the National Equestrian Championships Dressage results posted on the EFI website reveals that EFI allowed a rider and horse combination to compete in the Intermediate – I category though the Observer had directed that the rules and regulations are observed to prevent a repeat of the violation that he had investigated last month.
“I have gone through the various e-mails, language of the rules, and other facts put up to me by the (EFI) Athletes Commission, and the (EFI) Secretariat. I have arrived at the conclusion that rules were violated as alleged and I find it very strange that EFI Executive Council should allow these violations,” he had written before the start of the National Championships on January 4.
In fact, Dr. Quraishi directed that EFI declare the disputed event null and void because of the violation of rules. “In view of the coming Nationals, isn’t swift action desirable in public interest? Importantly, you are strongly advised to ensure that no such violation occurs in any event in future and the Executive Committee members ensure that all rules are observed fully,” he wrote.
However, EFI did not heed his views or that of its own Athletes’ Commission and let Chateau VS, a horse listed on the EFI website as being qualified to compete in Preliminary category in Dressage, compete in the Intermediate – I category again. In the event, the horse (and the rider) did not secure the approval of the judges to earn a medal in the category in which there were just two entries.
It remains to be seen what the Delhi High Court-appointed Observer does now after EFI appears to have held the view that he could not interfere in the functioning of the federation.
Meanwhile, the World Equestrian Federation, FEI, has released the rankings for 2020 Dressage World Challenge based on individual results of 143 riders from four countries (India, New Zealand, South Africa and Chinese Taipei).
Gaurav Pundir (on GSE’s Escobar) and Yad Ram (on Azad) are ranked 10th in the Intermediate 1 and Prix St. George categories respectively in which 10 riders and 18 have been ranked. Among the 27 riders ranked in the Senior II Class category, Paridhi Joshi (Sevilla) is at 19th. Rohit Dagar (Veer) and Mrityunjay Singh Rathore (Lazarus) are fifth and sixth in the Senior I Class category.
Shashank Kanumuri (Qurt De Montplaisir) is ranked fourth in the Youth Class to be the best of the Indian riders in this category.
These rankings are not to be confused with the overall World ranking. For the record, the FEI Dressage rankings list Shruti Vora (on Denightron) at 300, Anush Agarwalla (Flovinos Feiner Kerl) at 337, Jitendarjit Singh Ahluwalia (Denighton) at 947 and Anush Agarwalla (Sir Caramello Old) at 955.
National Equestrian Championship Dressage results:
Intermediate – I: No medals awarded. Best scores: 1. Viveka Singh Rathore on Chateau VS 53.53 per cent; Viveka Singh Rathore on De Galles VS 51.18.
Prix St. George: 1. Gaurav Pundir on Escobar 59.17; Other scores: Yad Ram on Azad 57.60; Shweta Mirdha Hooda on Divine Will 57.01.
Advanced: 1. Yad Ram on Azad 60.96; Other scores: RS Rana on Thunder Storm 59.90; Rajpal Singh on Paramveer 57.98.
Advanced – Medium: 1. P Vishwanath on Asman 63.29; Other scores: Rohit Dagar on Arjuna 60.75; Rajender on Gaurav 60.40.
Medium: 1. P Vishwanath on Arman 68.88; 2. P Vishwanath on Amar 67.54; 3. Shaurya Pratap on Trend Setter 67.20.
Elementary: 1. Apurva D on Cantolina 66.09; 2. Sudipti Hajela on Estelle 65.86; 3. Sai Sud on Royce 65.69.
Preliminary: 1. MS Rathore on In Good Time 69.68; 2. MS Rathore on Latour Reoveka 69.05; 3. Rohit Dagar on Kar Fateh 67.62.
