Asian Games: Hong Kong’s Jacqueline Siu cries tears of joy after dancing to dressage gold in Indonesia

Hong Kong finally landed its first gold medal of the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia on Thursday when Jacqueline Siu Wing-ying and her partner, Jockey Club Fuerst on Tour, won the individual dressage.

Siu overtook Malaysia’s Mahamad Fatjil Qabil Ambak to claim gold and bring a sigh of relief to the 586-strong Hong Kong team, who have suffered some narrow misses in their search for gold, particularly in fencing.

The win represents Hong Kong’s first equestrian gold at an Asian Games, and a reward for years of perseverance from Siu.

Indonesia 2018 is the 35-year-old Siu’s fourth Games and her first Asiad medal after twice finishing just short of the podium in fourth.

“At the last Asian Games I came fourth individually so I just missed out on a medal and I cried all the way home on the plane,” Siu admitted, “and now I’ll be crying because I’m so happy.

“I was really hoping for any medal really – it would be a huge achievement at this competition. There’s so many fantastic horses and so many top riders – to be on the podium with Qabil from Malaysia. He’s won so many medals at the Asian Games in dressage and jumping, so I’m happy to be on the podium with such talent.