Sarah Rao Wins Individual Gold at 2025 FEI Asian Championships

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2025 FEI Asian Championships

-- FEI press release

After the Prix St Georges team competition at the FEI Asian Championships in Pattaya, Thailand, individual rider Sarah Rao (CHN) and Geniaal were already tipped as strong contenders for the individual gold medal, decided by the Intermediaire I.

On Thursday 27 November 2025, the pair raised the bar even further in the Inter I test. Their impressive score of 73.794% secured the gold medal, well ahead of silver medallist Shruti Vora (IND) with Magnanimous and bronze medallist Pakjira Thongpakdi (THA) with Samira O.

"I really want to encourage young Asian athletes to keep going, take your time to build yourself, and one day it will come," said Sarah Rao.

Top 10

It was a tightly contested class with the top 10 results closely packed. Before the break, it was Divyakriti Singh (IND) with 12-year old KWPN bred Improver (by Apache x Ferro) who made the biggest leap in the standings: moving from 11th in the Prix St Georges to fifth today. Their 68.588% left them less than one percent away from a medal with her energetic, powerful black gelding who showed a strong uphill tendency.

The third-placed athlete from the Prix St Georges, British based Jacqueline Wing Ying Siu (HKG) and Heather and Rowan Bryson's 12-year old KWPN bred Izonik (by Zonik x Jazz), produced a very good overall picture, but a few costly mistakes kept them off the podium. Their score of 69.088% was good enough for a close fourth place.

Consistency rewarded for Vora

Just as in the Prix St Georges, Shruti Vora (IND) and the 13-year old Oldenburg bred Magnanimous (by Millennium x De Niro) impressed with a very consistent performance. Magnanimous, who is owned by the athlete together with Jitendarjit Singh Ahluwalia, is a beautifully trained horse and showed great willingness throughout the test. The horse has been trained in Germany by German Olympian Helen Langehanenberg. They delivered an almost fault-free performance, with only the first pirouette being slightly large, while the tempi changes were a real highlight. Their total of 70.147% earned them the silver medal.

Bronze for home athlete Thongpakdi

Bronze went to home athlete Pakjira Thongpakdi (THA) with the only mare in the field, the 10-year old Oldenburg mare Samira O (by Franizkus x De Niro). With 69.118% they delivered a very tidy test. The elegant mare has a good hindleg and showed a strong walk tour.

Samira O is bred by Andrea Oldehus and was previously competed by Spanish Olympian Borja Carrascosa

Favourite Delivers Under Pressure

But once again, it was the PSG winner who proved untouchable: Sarah Rao and Geniaal (owned by the athlete). Throughout the test, the gelding showed a soft, steady contact, excellent lateral work and a beautifully executed zig-zag in canter. With an expressive, uphill frame, the pair delivered a flawless round. Their 73.794% placed them comfortably clear of the field and confirms them as strong favourites heading into Sunday’s Freestyle.

Rao has been long-time based in Great Britain, training with Sarah Higgins. Her coach has been competing the 14-year old Geniaal (by Vivaldi x Biotop) as well as Rao in preparation of the Asian Championships.

Vora, Rao, Thongpakdi on the individual podium

“We’ve had six years of ups and downs. I’ve really struggled with competitions; I totally freeze when I’m nervous," said Rao. "It’s taken me a long time, but in the last year I started to get a grip on it. I’m really proud I was able to pull it off here. It shows how much I’ve learned to calm myself down and ride like I do at home. I’m so happy about that. I rode well for myself, but to win on top of it makes it incredibly special. I really want to encourage young Asian athletes to keep going, take your time to build yourself, and one day it will come.”