Equestrian sport in India
| Equestrian sport in India | |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| Governing body | Equestrian Federation of India |
| National team | India |
India has a wide following in various equestrian sports like showjumping, eventing, dressage, endurance and tentpegging. Supported by the Equestrian Federation of India, eventing is the most popular of the five, with teams representing the country at most Asian Games, winning a bronze medal in the 2002 and 2006 games. India has been represented at the Olympics twice, by (late)Wing Commander I.J.Lamba, and Imtiaz Anees.
Equestrian Sports occupy a coveted position in India context. It is a part of Indian culture and history of riding horses.
Equestrian Sports is majorly dominant in the Indian Armed Forces (Indian Army) and Police Forces. Though India as a country hosts approximately 90 Lakh horses that are reared and domesticated for Riding and Means of livelihood, a dismal percent of these are able to connect with the mainstream professional Equestrian Sports activities.
State Sports Associations are defunct in terms of their responsibility of developing the Sport. None of the State Equestrian Associations organize yearly State Championships or per say any championships as such.
The Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) is the country’s governing body for Equestrian Sports. But being run by serving Army Officers, it fails to promote or develop Equestrian Sports in the country.
Disciplines of Equestrian Sports:
Equestrian Sports have the following Disciplines:
- Show jumping
- Dressage
- Eventing
- Endurance
- Vaulting
- Reigning
- Driving & Para
- Tent Pegging
- POLO: Polo is a leisure equestrian Sport not governed by Equestrian Federation of India but is mainly governed by Indian Polo Association (IPA), again an Army Dominant Body.
In India, among Equestrian Sports, only Show Jumping, Dressage, Eventing, Tent Pegging and Endurance competitions are held. Among these, only in Equestrian Tent Pegging, Indian Riders participate in large numbers and win medals. At the International level too, Indian riders are considered among the best in Equestrian Tent Pegging.
Major National Awards in Equestrian:
Arjuna Award : Only 9 Riders of the Country have been awarded Arjuna Award. The award is bestowed on the recommendation of the National Federation. As the National Federation has full majority of the Indian Army, Only Army personnel have been proposed for Arjuna Awards till date with not much of an accomplishment.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awards: NIL for Equestrian Sports till date
Winner-List-Arjun-Award-Equestrian
|
Year |
Awardee |
|
1973 |
Dafadar Khan M. Khan |
|
1976 |
Lt. Col. H.S. Sodhi |
|
1982 |
Maj. R. Singh Brar |
|
1982 |
Shri Raghubir Singh |
|
1984 |
Capt. G. Mohd. Khan |
|
1987 |
Maj. J.S. Ahluwalia |
|
1991 |
Capt. Adhiraj Singh |
|
2003 |
Capt. Rajesh Pattu |
|
2004 |
Deep Ahlawat |
India has by far the largest manufacturing units of Horse Equipments mainly Saddellery, which is mostly Exported to major Equestrian playing nations.
India has not seen any major Equestrian Event Organisers or companies in Equestrian Sports Events or training until 2010.
In 2010, Equestrian national and international players including Wg Cmdr (Late) I.S. Lanba, Olympian established Equiwings Sports (www.equiwings.com) . This company organised State and National Equestrian Championships on behalf of Equestrian Federation of India, to bring in more professionalism to the Sport, also increases the database of Riders in the country through major tie-ups with media and advertising companies. Equiwings Sports has promoted Equestrian Sports in Schools to increase more participation and nurture of talent. Besides, local talent from Rural parts of the country is also tapped through organising Regional and National championships for Rural Horses and villagers. Then the experts of Equiwings trains the raw talent and exposes them to National and International circuit.
Equiwings Sports under the aegis of Equestrian Federation of India has organised:
2010: Asian Equestrian Tent Pegging Championship
International Equestrian Tent Pegging Championship
National Equestrian Tent Pegging Championship
Noida Horse Show
National Awards - Horse Sports
2011: Equiwings Horse Show
2012: Asian Equestrian Tent Pegging Championship
International Equestrian Tent Pegging Championship
National Equestrian Tent Pegging Championship
Ghaziabad Horse Show
Equiwings Horse Show
National Awards - Horse Sports
2013: World Equestrian Tent Pegging Championship
Asian Equestrian Tent Pegging Championship
National Equestrian Tent Pegging Championship
Gurgaon Horse Show
National & International Awards - Horse Sports
2014: Equiwings Horse Show
2015; Asian Equestrian Tent Pegging Championship
International Equestrian Tent Pegging Championship
National Equestrian Tent Pegging Championship
Equiwings Horse Show
External links
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