Hong Kong’s equestrian team won silver in dressage at Hangzhou

Hong Kong’s Jacqueline Siu won a silver in the individual dressage discipline of the equestrian events of the 19th Asian Games held at Tonglu Equestrian Center yesterday. Defending her crown on board Jockey Club Huittharien, Siu won the silver medal scoring 73.45. Together with the bronze medal for the earlier team event, Hong Kong’s equestrian medal haul to date stands at one silver and one bronze.

As the 11th contestant in yesterday’s final, Siu put on a smooth performance on board Jockey Club Huittharien, moving in perfect harmony with the music. With a score of 70.1 for technical execution and 76.8 for artistic flair, she was in the lead at that stage of the competition. However, among the final four contestants, the Malaysian contestant on board Rosenstolz topped the league with a score of 75.78; the Indian contestant on board ETRO came third with a score of 73.03. Competing on board Southern Cross Braemar, Siu’s colleague, Annie Ho, came 13th with a score of 61.01.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Equestrian Team, comprising nine members, is representing Hong Kong, China in the dressage, show jumping and eventing competitions, with a total of 11 horse-rider combinations. It is the largest Equestrian Team Hong Kong, China squad ever to compete in the Asian Games, and the first time the team participates in both individual and team events in all three disciplines.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club support team comprises coaches, veterinarians, farriers, physiotherapists and other professional support under the Hong Kong Equestrian Performance Plan, providing riders and horses with specialist support during the Asian Games.

Mr Michael Lee, Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club and President of the Equestrian Federation of Hong Kong, China, extends his congratulations to Siu on her distinguished result. “This is the first time that Hong Kong, China has won medals in the individual dressage event in consecutive Asian Games. At the same time, I am very thankful for the staunch support of the Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Equestrian Federation of Hong Kong, China, over the years, making this scintillating achievement possible,” he enthuses. “Once again, my hearty congratulations to Jacqueline Siu for her illustrious performance, re-writing Hong Kong’s history in equestrian development.”