Team China wins overseas equestrian contests in preparation for Tokyo Olympics

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Europe

There is no better birthday present than a European equestrian trophy for Chinese rider Zhao Zhonghe who turned 19-years-old during his competition in the Netherlands.

Zhao started his horse-riding training at age 12 and this time he is among a delegation of 20 members from China to compete during the CSI Peelbergen-Kronenberg game, a section of the 2018 CEID Europe League, which was organized by the China Equestrian International Development (CEID).

It was the first time that China's equestrian team participated in Europe. The competition has two parts: one was held at Equestrian Center de Peelbergen in Kronenberg, Netherlands from August 2-5, and the other will be organized at Sentower Park in Opglabbeek, Belgium from August 9-12.

Zhao Zhonghe riding his horse receiving a CEID certificate. /Sina Sport

During the 1.30 meter class show jumping competition in Kronenberg, Zhao won the first prize with his 10-year-old mare Dermie of KWPN, and later bagged the runner-up award with nine-year-old Verdon Dh Z of Belgium.

"I didn't ride so well, but my horse is super nice. She went clear and very fast," Zhao said. When talking about his second race, he believed the horse named Verdon is "the best so far in the summer as it is very smooth and sharp. I felt very happy about it."

Chinese Olympian Alex Hua Tian rides Don Geniro during equestrian event of 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. /VCG Photo

The London-born Chinese Alex Hua Tian, 29, is an Olympic pioneer for China in the event. He competed for China in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2016 Rio Olympics. His absence in the 2012 London Olympics was due his horse's injury.

"Marketing equestrianism as a sport that is only accessible to the top 0.1 percent of the population is not good. This is something I'm trying very hard to get the sport be accessible to everybody," said Alex Hua Tian, who is on a mission to help make the once elite sport more accessible in China.

The European competition is an innovative trial for the Chinese Equestrian Association to launch trainings in preparation for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Previously closed trainings are now part of an open and collaborative program that involves the government, enterprises and horse owners.

The CEID is a major supportive force for the association to form a national team as five equestrian Olympians have been included in the event.

"This tour offers Chinese riders the opportunity to gain competition experience and to experience the entourage at international competitions," said Ger Poels, a European initiator of the event.