Indian Army’s Ashish Malik Wins Gold in Italy, Historic Boost for Indian Equestrian Sport

In a landmark moment for Indian equestrian sport, Lt Col Ashish Malik has clinched individual gold at an international event in Italy.

It is the first time an Indian rider has secured top honours at a competition of this level overseas.

Riding his horse Linus Zang, Lt Col Malik topped the podium at the CCI2 event in Mortegliano with a score of 38.800, defeating Italy’s Andrea Docimo and Austria’s Anna Bischof in a highly competitive field. The Indian Army’s official handle celebrated the feat on X, calling it a “Historic Moment For Indian Army Equestrian Sports.”

Malik competed in eventing—one of equestrian sport’s most demanding disciplines, combining dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. The format tests precision, endurance, and rider-horse coordination across all three phases, and Malik’s gold-winning run reflected a commanding consistency throughout.

“This is a huge achievement for the Indian equestrian ecosystem,” former EFI Secretary General Col Jaiveer Singh told RevSportz. “We don’t have many such riders, and it indicates that the sport is growing. This medal holds great significance for equestrian sport lovers.”

The 38-year-old officer from Rohtak is no stranger to international success. He was part of India’s silver medal-winning eventing team at the 2018 Asian Games, has won bronze at the FEI World Challenge Dressage, and remains the only serving officer to have claimed an Asian Games medal in the discipline, a record backed by close to 100 national-level medals.

Lt Col Malik is currently based in Europe for structured training ahead of the next Asian Games cycle, with his sights set on building peak form at the right time for both himself and his horse.

Equestrian sport encompasses competitive disciplines involving horse and rider, including dressage, show jumping, and eventing. Each of these disciplines tests a unique combination of athleticism, precision, and the bond between human and animal.

One of the few Olympic sports where men and women compete on equal terms, it demands years of training and a deep understanding between rider and horse to perform at the highest level.

The victories in Italy are part of a broader wave of excellence sweeping through the Indian Army’s sports.

At the ISSF Junior World Cup in Cairo, Girls Sports Company Cadet Sejal Raju Kamble of the Army Marksmanship Unit claimed two silver medals in the 25m and 10m Air Pistol events.

These performances form part of a deliberate, long-term build-up as Indian Army athletes sharpen their competitive edge ahead of the biggest stage in global sports, with the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics scheduled for July 14–30, 2028.