Ashish Limaye Wins Asian Gold as India Clinches Team Silver in Historic Eventing Campaign

Indian equestrian sport celebrated one of its finest international performances as Ashish Limaye captured individual gold and the Indian contingent secured a superb team silver in Eventing at the Asian Equestrian Championships 2025.

It was a landmark day that underlined India’s rapid rise in the discipline across Dressage, Cross Country, and Show Jumping.

Riding the dependable Willy Be Dun, Limaye delivered a near-perfect competition—one that will be remembered for its remarkable consistency and composure under pressure. His final tally of 29.4, powered by a strong Dressage round and completed with zero penalties in both Cross Country and Show Jumping, placed him comfortably atop the leaderboard. It was the sort of performance that carried the authority of an athlete at the peak of his craft, and one that set the tone for India’s overall success.

Limaye finished ahead of Hong Kong’s Patrick Lam, who scored 30.1, and Thailand’s Korntawat Samran, who registered 32.8. The podium placements reflected not just individual execution but also the growing depth of Asian eventing, with India now firmly among the region’s leading nations.

While Limaye’s gold was the highlight, India’s campaign drew its true strength from the collective effort of Shashank Singh Kataria and Shashank Kanumuri, whose steady rides ensured the country finished with a team score of 121.8, securing the silver medal behind host nation Thailand and ahead of Hong Kong.

Kataria, riding Bullseye, produced an assured display across all three disciplines, finishing with a total of 37.9. His Cross Country phase in particular stood out, showing improved rhythm and control compared to previous seasons. Kanumuri, on Wellfields Casino Royale, registered 54.5 after a solid Dressage effort and clean sections in Show Jumping that proved crucial in keeping India within medal range.

The trio’s combined performances powered India to second place in the team standings, with Thailand taking gold at 117.6 and Hong Kong completing the podium at 122.9. For India, the margin was slim, the competition intense, and the medal richly earned.

The broader significance of the result cannot be overstated. India has made steady progress in eventing over the past decade, but a medal haul of this calibre individual gold plus team silver signals a new phase in the country’s international competitiveness. The ability to deliver consistency across three technical and unforgiving phases is what separates podium contenders from the rest, and India demonstrated precisely that.

Limaye’s success was built on refinement and precision. His Dressage score of 29.4 immediately placed him among the favourites, but the true test in Eventing often lies in the unpredictability of Cross Country. He navigated every question posed on the course with measured speed and faultless control, allowing him to enter the final Show Jumping round with confidence. A clean final round sealed the gold, and with it, one of the biggest victories of his career.

For Kataria and Kanumuri, this outing also represents major personal breakthroughs. Both riders have been building steadily on the domestic circuit and have increasingly shown the ability to translate that form into high-pressure international settings. Their composure ensured that India avoided major penalties something that proved decisive in the final standings.

As the tricolour rose during the medal ceremonies, it marked more than just a moment of celebration. It symbolised India’s arrival as a credible force in Asian eventing. The performances in Pattaya reflected not only talent but preparation, planning, and a growing professionalism within the Indian equestrian system.

With the Asian Championships now behind them, the Indian riders return with medals, confidence, and momentum. For Ashish Limaye, the continental crown elevates him into an elite bracket. For the team, the silver medal represents unity, discipline, and belief.

And for Indian equestrian sport, this was a historic day one that will inspire the next generation of riders dreaming of making their mark on the international stage.