2026 Asian Games: A Preview of the Dressage Competition in Tokyo

Nine nations are competing for the team medals: China, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, and the United Arab Emirates. In addition, seven individual pairs will compete, representing the following countries: Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Palestine, Qatar, and Uzbekistan.

Grand Prix Makes Its Debut

at the

For the first time, Grand Prix events will be held at the Asian Games. Until now, medals at the Asian Games have been awarded exclusively at the Small Tour level. In Tokyo, the program now combines the Small Tour—featuring the Prix St. Georges and Intermediate I—with a new Grand Tour category comprising the Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special, and Grand Prix Freestyle.

Each team must field at least one pair in the Small Tour and may enter a maximum of two pairs in the Grand Tour. However, teams that compete only in the Small Tour are certainly permitted. That’s fortunate, because there is only one pair that has opted for the Grand Prix: Shiwoo Kim (KOR) and Sir Hubert NRW, trained by Spain’s Borja Carrascosa. They are thus bringing the Grand Prix to the Asian Games for the first time—the individual title will ultimately be decided in the free skate.

Team medals are awarded on the first day during the Prix St. Georges and Grand Prix, with the top three results from each nation counting toward the team total. All pairs that complete the first test are eligible to compete in the second individual qualifier on Saturday—the Intermédiaire I and Grand Prix Special. The top 15 pairs in the overall standings after the second qualifying round—a maximum of two per team—advance to the freestyle. Medals are awarded for the team competition and the individual freestyle final.

Defending champion from China, challenger from India

Sarah Rao from China, riding Geniaal, is among the favorites. At the 2025 FEI Asian Championships in Pattaya (THA), she dominated all three classes with the highest scores in each, winning individual gold in the Intermédiaire I and the freestyle. She was also part of the Chinese silver-medal-winning team in Hangzhou.

Her toughest competitor in Pattaya was Shruti Vora (IND) riding Magnanimous: she won individual silver in both medal events and team silver for India. Vora is now training with World Cup champion Becky Moody and is likely to have further improved her form.

Defending Champion India with a New Lineup

India is heading to Tokyo as the

defending champion

of the Asian Games— without its “anchorman,” Anush Agarwalla. The only remaining member of the gold-medal team from Hangzhou is Hriday Vipul Chheda. Joining him are Gaurav Pundir with Milli, Jai Sud with Goofy La Perle, and Vora with Magnanimous.

Thailand, the team gold medalist at the 2025 FEI Asian Championships, will also compete in Tokyo with a four-member team: Chalermcharn Yotviriyapanit riding Sant Jordi, Chanjanok Klara Ruecker riding Vincent, Nynn Puttisombat riding Rock That Tango, and HRH Princess Sirivannavari Mahidol riding Boulevard.

Host country Japan is also fielding four pairs, led by Shingo Hayashi and King Leatherdale O. Hayashi has previously represented Japan at the Olympic Games and World Championships—including Tokyo 2020 and Herning 2022—and is competing internationally again this season with King Leatherdale O.

None of the three individual medalists from Hangzhou will be competing in Tokyo: Qabil Ambak (MAS) on Rosenstolz (gold), Jacqueline Wing Ying Siu (HKG) with Jockey Club Huittharien (silver), and Anush Agarwalla (IND) with Etro (bronze) are all absent from the starting field. The individual title will therefore definitely go to a new winner.

Judges and Schedule

An experienced panel of five judges will oversee the competition, chaired by Hans-Christian Matthiesen (DEN). Joining him are Col. Sunil Shivdas (IND), Vittorio Barba (PHI), Ricky MacMillan (AUS), and Helen Hughes-Keen (NZL).

The dressage competitions will begin with the team final and the first individual qualifying round on Friday, September 25, at 9:30 a.m. local time (JST, UTC+9). The second individual qualifier begins on Saturday, September 26, also at 9:30 a.m., followed by the individual freestyle final on Sunday, September 27, at 9:30 a.m.