India strikes gold in equestrian, first in 40 yrs: 'Everyone made sacrifices'

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.

- MIHIR VASAVDA

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.

But 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.