Hong Kong’s Jacqueline Siu upbeat despite again missing out on Asian Championships medal
Freestyle dressage competitor finishes fourth for second time in four days, but says she’s looking ‘onwards and upwards to future goals’
Jacqueline Siu Wing-ying remained upbeat on Sunday, despite being pipped to an FEI Asian Championships medal for the second time in four days.
Performing last among the 18 freestyle dressage competitors in Thailand, Siu’s overall score of 71.955 points was just 0.55 fewer than the 72.505 managed by third-placed Pakjira Thongpakdi.
Home rider Thongpakdi had beaten Siu, who teamed up with mount Izonik only six weeks ago, to individual dressage bronze by 0.03 points on Thursday. Sarah Rao, of China, totalled a mammoth 79.180 to complete an individual and freestyle golden double. India’s Shruti Vora scored 73.800 to repeat her individual silver feat.
Annie Ho Yuen-yan and Samantha Chan, who combined with Siu to claim team bronze for Hong Kong on Tuesday, were 11th and 15th, respectively.
Siu had spoken on Saturday about the Tai Po fire tragedy, delivering a “reality check” over the importance of sport.
The 43-year-old accordingly refused to be downcast following Thursday’s near miss, and was “extremely proud” of her efforts in tandem with gelding Izonik again over the weekend, after the duo’s short preparation window.