Sarah Rao of China riding Geniaal celebrates winning gold during the Intermediate I Dressage individual championship at the Thai Polo Club on November 27, 2025 in Pattaya (THA).

©FEI/Yong Teck Lim

After Tuesday’s Prix St Georges team competition at the FEI Asian Championships, Sarah Rao (CHN) and Geniaal were already tipped as strong contenders for the individual title. Today, in the Intermediate I, the pair raised the bar even further. Their impressive score of 73.794% secured the gold medal in the Intermediate I, well ahead of silver medallist Shruti Vora (IND) with Magnanimous and bronze medallist Pakjira Thongpakdi (THA) with Samira O.

It was a tightly contested Intermediate I in Pattaya, with the top 10 results closely packed. Before the break, it was Divyakriti Singh (IND) with Improver (owned by Remy Bastings Dressage Horses) 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, Jacqueline Wing Ying Siu (HKG) and Izonik (owned by Heather and Rowan Bryson), 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.

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

Sarah Rao

(CHN)

Consistency rewarded for Vora

Just as in the Prix St Georges, Shruti Vora (IND) and Magnanimous impressed with a very consistent performance. Magnanimous (owned by the athlete, Jitendarjit Singh Ahluwalia, Hansika Vora and Varun Vora) is a beautifully trained horse and showed great willingness throughout the test. 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�rned them the silver medal.

Bronze for home athlete Thongpakdi

Bronze went to home athlete Pakjira Thongpakdi (THA) with the only mare in the field, Samira O (owned by the athlete, Dul Thongpakdi and Subhanandh Thongpakdi). With 69.118% they delivered a very neat test. The elegant mare has a good hindleg and showed a strong walk tour. 

Favourite delivers under pressure

But once again, it was the Prix St Georges 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: ‘One day it will come’

The gold medallist spoke emotionally about what the result meant to her: “We’ve had six years of ups and downs. I’ve really struggled with competitions; I totally freeze when I’m nervous. 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.”

The Intermediate I Freestyle will take place on Sunday and will be available live on FEI TV.

FULL RESULTS