Pakistan’s prowess in tent pegging took center stage as the nation triumphantly seized two gold medals during the thrilling culmination of the 2023 Tent Pegging World Cup held in George, South Africa.
Standing strong in the global competition, Pakistan’s accomplished equestrian team also secured the second position in the overall championship, securing the prestigious World Cup Silver.
The final day of the World Cup witnessed riders from nine diverse nations engaging in six riveting runs, where their remarkable expertise in disciplines such as Ring and Peg, Lemon and Peg, and Sword and Lance Relays were showcased.
The Pakistan team, composed of exceptional riders Tassawur Abbas, Irfan Mehmood, Wajahatullah Khan, and Nasir Abbas, showcased unwavering dominance from the very outset, culminating the day in a resounding victory.
In the initial round of the day, the Ring and Peg challenge demanded riders to deftly collect the ring while passing through the weapon without contact, subsequently piercing the weapon into a peg and carrying it away. Wajahatullah and Tassawur Abbas excelled in this round, earning maximum points, while Irfan Mehmood secured two points. Nasir Abbas, despite a strong performance on day one, missed his peg collection in this round.
The Lemon and Peg category followed, where riders showcased their precision by puncturing or slicing a lemon before targeting the peg. Tassawur Abbas maintained his position as Pakistan’s best performer, scoring 36 points. Wajahat and Irfan secured 30 points each, having momentarily missed their pegs after the successful slicing of the lemon. The team’s total was increased by Nasir Abbas’ 24 points.
During the relays, Pakistan encountered a momentary setback as Wajahatullah missed his lance target. However, the team reclaimed its momentum during the Sword Relay, with each rider impeccably piercing and carrying the target over the finish line. Both fans and squad members enthusiastically cheered “Pakistan Zindabad” in response to the group achievement, signifying Pakistan’s historic triumph that day.
Remarkably, Pakistan’s cumulative performance on this day amassed 294 points, securing the highly coveted Gold medal. Following closely were Saudi Arabia with 289 points and India with 276.5 points.
The day’s top rider was Tassawur Abbas, who won an individual gold medal for his faultless performance and perfect score of all possible points.
Building on their exceptional performance from day two, Pakistan catapulted from third to second place in the overall championship standings, ultimately claiming the Silver Medal in the Tent Pegging World Cup with a total of 570 points. Saudi Arabia clinched the championship trophy with 581.5 points, while India secured the third position with 548.5 points.
Irfan Mehmood, accruing a total of 152 points, proudly secured the overall individual silver medal in the championship.
Pakistan’s dominance in the thrilling sport of tent pegging on a worldwide scale is cemented by this resounding victory at the 2023 Tent Pegging World Cup.
