Equestrian: Ahaan Kumar Bounces Back From Asian Games Setback With Podium Finish in Hungary

Bengaluru, Oct 13: Barely weeks after missing the Asian Games following a veterinary setback involving his horse Bolivar Gio Granno, Indian equestrian Captain Ahaan Kumar of the Army's 61 Cavalry bounced back with a third-place finish at the FEI CCI4*-S eventing competition in Babolna, Hungary, on Sunday (October 11).

Competing aboard Bolivar Gio Granno, Ahaan finished with 162.9 penalty points in the four-star short-format competition, held from October 9 to 11, marking an encouraging debut at the higher level and his third podium finish of the European season.

Hungary's Noemi Viola Doerfer, riding Piltown Harry, won with 57.4 penalty points, while Czech Republic's Adela Cisarova finished second aboard Baloo the Bear with 71.3.

The result was particularly significant for Ahaan, whose Asian Games campaign ended before it began after Bolivar Gio Granno tested positive for equine piroplasmosis, a tick-borne infection, during mandatory pre-travel testing in August.

The positive result, reported on August 21, prevented the rider-horse combination from travelling to Japan. With the deadline for preparing a replacement combination having passed, India were left with only three eventing entries instead of the originally selected four.

The episode also raised questions over the Equestrian Federation of India's handling of reserve horses. Reserve rider Pradeep Kumar Jangam alleged that he was not informed about the mandatory blood-testing deadline, leaving his horse ineligible to travel. The federation's ad-hoc committee disputed his account and maintained that the situation arose too late for a replacement.

For Ahaan, however, the disappointment has been followed by an encouraging return to competition. "This European season, we've had a podium finish in all three classes. In March, we came third in the two-star long, then in May we came third in the three-star short," Ahaan said.

"At the last competition of the season, after missing the Asian Games, we decided to go one level up and finished third. This being my first four-star and getting a podium finish is a great motivation after the Asian Games setback."

The latest result continued his steady progression through the international eventing ranks, having secured podium finishes at three different levels during the season.

"We're looking forward to finishing with better scores and positions next season," he added.