{
  "id": 8686150,
  "title": "FPJ Exclusive: 'Asian Games Gold Was Just The Starting Point,' Says Indian Equestrian Hriday Chheda On His Olympic Dream",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/fpj-exclusive-asian-games-gold-was-just-the-starting-point-says",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-20T12:17:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/fpj-exclusive-asian-games-gold-was-just-the-starting-point-says-indian-equestrian-hriday-chheda-on-his-olympic-dream"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Hriday Chheda, an Indian equestrian, began his journey with horses at the age of six when his father introduced him to riding camps. He found a special connection with horses that made him choose equestrian sport over more traditional sports like cricket and football. Dressage, often called \"horse ballet,\" requires great technical precision and a strong bond between the rider and the horse. Chheda emphasizes that trust is built through daily interactions with horses, and at the highest level, the aids must become almost invisible.\n\nTraining at the Amateur Riders' Club in Mumbai paved the way for Chheda to move to a more intensive base in Pamfou, France. This exposure to international training has shaped his approach to the sport, allowing him to develop a more professional and international mindset. He has trained at various centers in India and Europe since he was 13.\n\nAt the 2022 Asian Games, Chheda was part of India's first gold-medal winning dressage team, a historic achievement for Indian equestrian sport. This victory gave him confidence that Indian riders can compete successfully at the highest level in Asia and internationally. However, he views it as just the starting point, not the endpoint. Building on this success and creating a pathway for many more Indian riders to reach the top is his goal.\n\nAs Chheda prepares for the 2026 Asian Games with Dono DiMaggio, his partnership has been more time-intensive compared to his time with Chemxpro Emerald. He has given Dono more time to understand his strengths, sensitivities, and personality, allowing them to build the partnership progressively. Chheda emphasizes that the focus should be on the process rather than the expectations that come with being a defending champion. He turns the pressure into motivation and aims to prepare the horse as well as possible for the new competition.",
  "summary": "1. Your journey in equestrian sport began at the age of 11 when your father introduced you to riding. What was it about horses and dressage that drew you in at a time when most children were choosing sports like cricket and football? A: I actually started riding at the age of six, when my father introduced me to riding camps at Japalouppe Equestrian Centre between Bombay and Pune. I was exposed…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}