After three days of team and three days of individual competition in the Jumping discipline at the FEI Asian Championships Pattaya 2025, finals scores were tallied for team medals and podium positions.Team Japan remained strong to lead the victory gallop with a final total of 9.11 penalties.Team Kuwait earned the silver with 14.42 penalties and Team Hong Kong, China finished on 25.45 penalties for the bronze medal.
Japan’s strength as a team was reflected in the arena and after their victory in the press conference. Two of the riders,Taizo Sugitani and Kazuki Takizawa, have jumped consistently clear since the speed class on Wednesday, and currently sit in the first and third positions going into Sunday’s two round format. The youngest member on the team, Kei Okubo, has only lowered the height of one fence and incurred one time penalty over the three days of qualifying rounds. Tomoki Koshidaka, who started strong on day one, was proud to be part of the team, despite the challenges he had in the ring.
Although he was the team’s drop score, Koshidaka explained his feelings on the experience as good. “I respect my horse, My horse is strong. He jumped very well the first day. I have work to do and I’ll come back to the championship.”
“My biggest goal was to win team gold,” Sugitani said. “I think today was the true definition of teamwork, we helped each other.”
Okubo agreed. “My team is very helpful. The first day I got the worst score on the team but they were supportive. I want to thank all of them.”
The 1.40m track on day three, designed by Olaf Petersen Jr. (GER), was colorfully Thai with beautiful jumps representing the culture. Petersen is pleased with how the horses and riders have handled the courses.
“First of all I am here as a horseman," he explained. “All the horses jump better day by day. We have seen good pictures over these last few days and the next rounds in the final will be a little more challenging.”
He continued, “I’m really carefully watching every horse and every rider to see how they go. We have great conditions here.We have some new jumps and the courses will be bigger for the final two rounds on Sunday.”
The top three athletes in the individual competition rode without fault today. Taizo Sugitani (JPN) and Quincy 194 stay on a score of zero. Yun-Chi Lin (TPE) and his partner Driss de Kerglenn have 1.04 penalty points. And in third is Japanese rider Kazuki Takizawa and Crn Digger with 1.43 penalty points. Three additional riders have scores less than a rail away from the top, Ali Al Khorafi (KUW) with 1.5 penalty points, Sheik Ali Jmal Nasr Al Nuami (UAE) with 1.66 and Egor Shchibrik (PLE) with 1.93.
Horses and riders rest and refresh on Saturday, preparing to compete in two final rounds. This day will determine who will earn a place on the podium.
