Zoha Faiyaz and Dia Deshpande share top honours at HPRC Equestrian Challenge 2026

Zoha Faiyaz and Dia Deshpande shared the top honours in the Hacks Under-10 years event at the HPRC Equestrian Challenge 2026, conducted by Hyderabad Polo and Riding Club (HPRC) on their campus in Hyderabad on Saturday.

Zoha Faiyaz, riding Zing Bang, and Dia Deshpande, riding Tango, finished joint second with 40 points each. Both riders belong to HPRC. There was a tie even for the second position as HPRC riders’ Reya on Baretta and Nehraika on Elegance logged in 38 points each to be joint second. HPRC’s Reya N on Ajeera took the third position with 32 points.

In the Hacks Under-12 years category, Ananya Gupta was a proud girl as she bagged the first place. HPRC’s Ananya, riding Proud Girl, logged in 54 points as she brooked no challenge for the top spot. Royal Caballo Club’s Lehak Mehta, riding Groot, came in second with 38 points. Neil Sinha Jha of HPRC, riding Enigma, took the third spot with 26 points.

In the Hacks 13-16 years category, Flying Sea Stallion’s Dhanvi Cheruvu, astride Bhima, claimed the gold medal with 31 points. She was followed by HPRC’s Aarush Reddy, riding Carnival Lady, with 27 points. Another HPRC rider Medha Reddy Peddireddy, riding Enigma, finished third with 21 points.

In the Dressage events, HPRC riders ruled the roost. Samyukha Lakshmi Vanapalli, riding Chestnut Charmer, bagged the top spot in Children II category. She was followed by Tia Malpani on Biggles.

In Children 1 category, Mereddy Akshaj Reddy, riding Melting Ice, took the top spot, while Nidhi Katikaneni, riding Superman, came in second.

In the Juniors category, Gautam Sanjay Sujanani on Airstrike came in first. Aarush Reddy, riding Superman, finished second, while Sharavya Reddy Thummalapally on Master Touch finished third.

Results: Hacks (Under-10 years): 1. Zoha Faiyaz (Zing Bang) HPRC 40, 1. Dia Deshpande (Tango) HPRC 40, 2. Reya (Baretta) HPRC 38, 2. Neharika (Elegance) HPRC 38, 3. Reya N (Ajeera) HPRC 32.

Hacks (Under-12 years): 1. Ananya Gupta (Proud Girl) HPRC 54, 2. Lehak Mehta (Groot) Royal Caballo Club 38, 3. Neil Sinha Jha (Enigma) HPRC 26, 4. Baqar Barrkath Khan (Kemito) Royal Caballo Club 24, 4. Taanseen Jalaal Siddiqui (Ruby) The Hyd Millennium School 22.

Hacks (13 to 16 years): 1. Dhanvi Cheruvu (Bhima) Flying Sea Stallion 31, 2. Aarush Reddy (Carnival Lady) HPRC 27, 3. Medha Reddy Peddireddy (Enigma) HPRC 21, 4. Yuvraj Rohit Gupta (Neptune) HPRC 19.

Dressage (Children II): 1. Samyuktha Lakshmi Vanapalli (Chestnut Charmer) HPRC 53.3%, 2. Tia Malpani (Biggles) HPRC 48.3%.

Dressage (Children I): 1. Mereddy Akshaj Reddy (Melting Ice) HPRC 48.3%, 2. Nidhi Katikaneni (Superman) HPRC 47.9%, 3. Mereddy Akshaj Reddy (Centaur) HPRC 45.7%, 4. Yuvraj Rohit Gupta (Top Gun) HPRC 39.3%.

Dressage (Juniors): 1. Gautam Sanjay Sujanani (Airstrike) HPRC 52.8%, 2. Aarush Reddy (Superman) HPRC 45.6%, 3. Sharavya Reddy Thummalapally (Master Touch) HPRC 41.5%, 4. Sangam Tapasvi (Top Gun) HPRC 40.4%.