Malappuram Woman Rider Achieves Remarkable Feat at Equestrian World Endurance Championship

Nida Anjum Chelat, a 21-year-old rider hailing from Malappuram, Kerala, made history as the first Indian to successfully complete the demanding Equestrian World Endurance Championship for junior and young riders in Castelsagrat, France. Mounted on Epsilonn Salou, Nida completed four stages totaling 120km in a commendable time of seven hours and 29 minutes. The championship’s primary objective is to traverse the course without causing any harm to the horse.

Nida accomplished all four stages with distinction, securing the 23rd position in the first stage (28.6km), 26th in the second (29.2km), 24th in the third (33.8km), and 21st in the final stage (28.6km). She maintained an average speed of 16.7 km per hour throughout the event. Notably, out of 70 participants from 25 countries, 33 could not complete the race.

The individual gold and silver medals were claimed by the UAE, while Bahrain and France emerged victorious in the team category. Competitors from various nations, including Italy, France, Germany, UAE, Bahrain, Argentina, China, and Libya, participated in the competition. Nida’s outstanding performance in this rapidly growing equestrian event, under the auspices of the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), has also opened the door for her to compete in the senior category.

In a statement, it was highlighted that to qualify for the World Endurance Championship, a rider and their horse must complete a 120 km distance at least twice within a two-year period. Nida surpassed this requirement by successfully completing the 120 km distance four times with two different horse combinations. She has earned the prestigious three-star rider status, becoming the first Indian woman to achieve this feat by completing the 120 km distance ride multiple times.

Expressing her pride in being the first Indian to accomplish this achievement, Nida pledged to strive for further accolades for her country. Nida’s passion for horse riding began at an early age, and her entry into the World Championships was secured by winning the Gold Sword at the Abu Dhabi Endurance Championship. She receives coaching from the renowned horse trainer and rider, Ali Al Muhairi.

Nida and her horse exhibited remarkable endurance as they conquered each stage of the challenging race, which featured diverse terrain, water crossings, and forest paths. In addition to testing the rider’s skills and expertise, ensuring the horse’s well-being was a paramount challenge, as emphasized by veterinary consultant Mohamed Shafi in the statement.

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