NE SPORTS BUREAU
NEW DELHI, FEB 27
Equestrian Federation of India in association with Equiwings Sports is organizing World Cup Qualifiers for Equestrian Tent Pegging in Greater Noida from March 11 – 14 March, says a release.
A total of seven countries including Russia, the USA, Belarus, India, Pakistan, Sudan & Bahrain will be competing with each other at World Cup Qualifiers. Out of these seven teams, the top two will qualify for the World Cup which is going to be held in South Africa in 2023.
World Cup Qualifiers will be a part of The Penta Grand 2021; which also includes the National Equestrian Tent Pegging Championship, the Half Million Cup and the Noida Horse Show to be held at the Gautam Buddha University Sports Stadium, Greater Noida from March 3 to 14.
A total of 50+ International Riders, 250+ Indian Riders, and more than 300 horses will participate at The Penta Grand 2021. And many prominent dignitaries from across the world including will be attending the event.
Speaking on the announcement Ahmad Afsar, The Organising Secretary of The Championship and the Man behind the Promotion of Equestrian Tent Pegging in India and around the World said, “EFI and Equiwings Sports take pride in organizing International, Asian & World Equestrian Championships in India. India has been the front runner in the promotion and development of Equestrian Tent Pegging around the world. Equiwings Sports started 11 years ago with a distinct objective to increase literacy & evolve equestrian sports culture in the country and ensure that this sport (Tent Pegging) gets Olympic recognition. It is so overwhelming to see that our initiative is bringing the change and we are thrilled to bring ITPF World Cup Qualifiers for Equestrian Tent Pegging for the first time in India.”
“India is one of the countries in the world that excels in this sport. We are sure that by organising this year’s edition of both the World Cup Qualifiers (International) Equestrian Tent Pegging Championship and National Equestrian Championship we would immensely help in giving the sport the recognition and exposure that is due to it. In India, the sport had been popularised by Indian Maharaja’s and Nawab’s but it has dwindled in participation in the recent years. But now thanks to some prominent teams like Haryana Police, Punjab Police, 61 Cavalry, PBG, ASC, RVC, Assam Rifles, BSF, ITBP, Bihar Police, AMU Riding Club, etc, the Sport is growing,” added Ahmad.
Col Jaiveer Singh, Secretary-General, Equestrian Federation of India says, “During this tough Sporting year (2020-21), the EFI has successfully conducted all National Championships for Dressage, Eventing, Show Jumping, and Endurance. Being a NO CONTACT Sport helped the Sport to continue. Tent Pegging is one of the most thrilling and exciting Sports of Equestrian. Efforts are being made by the Federation (EFI) through a constant dialogue with the Asian Equestrian Federation (AEF) to get Tent Pegging re-included in the Asian Games.”
He said that getting World Cup Qualifier for the first time in the country especially during these testing times had been an ardent task, but we have an established OC in Equiwings which we are certain would make this event add glory to India.
Tent Pegging is a sport that features a mounted horseman riding at a gallop and uses a sword or a lance to pierce pick up and carry away a small ground target symbolic of a tent peg. Tent pegging was included as an official sport by the Olympic Council of Asia in 1982 and is an International schedule game today.
National, Asian, and International Equestrian will see competition in categories like individual tent pegging – Lance, Team Tent Pegging – Lance, Individual Tent Pegging – Sword, Team Tent Pegging – Sword, Individual Rings & Pegs – Lance, Individual Lemon & Pegs – Sword, Paired Tent Pegging – Lance & Sword, Indian File – Lance & Sword.
