Mumbai Riders Shine at National Equestrian Championships Qualifiers

Local Talents Qualify for National Equestrian Championships

On March 21, three talented riders from the Amateur Riders' Club (ARC) in Mumbai—Stasya Pandey, Jahnvi Raheja, and Jaden Dsouza—secured their spots for the National Equestrian Championships (NEC) at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse. The qualifiers were overseen by esteemed judges, Col. Sunil Shivdas and Col. HR Sunil.

The Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) is hosting this prestigious event, which will showcase competitors in both Show Jumping and Dressage disciplines. In the Children 1 Show Jumping category, Stasya Pandey, riding 'Cougar De Fees', completed her round in an impressive 75 seconds, according to a press release from ARC.

In the Junior Show Jumping category, Jaden Dsouza, riding 'Whispering Silver', finished her round in 74 seconds, while Jahnvi Raheja, also on 'Cougar De Fees', completed her round in 84 seconds, further qualifying for the championships.

These riders, along with many others, benefit from regular training at ARC's international-standard arena located at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse. The club has produced notable athletes like Hriday Chheda, a gold medalist at the 2023 Asian Games, and Yashaan Khambatta, who represented India at the 2014 Asian Games. Both now mentor young riders at ARC.

Jaden Dsouza expressed her passion for the sport, stating, “Coming from a family that values sports, my lifelong love for horses has driven me to pursue show jumping. The excitement of the National Qualifiers and the satisfaction of navigating a challenging course with my horse motivate me. I appreciate the excellent riding facilities at ARC and the unwavering support from my coach, Bobin, and my family.”