Equestrian tournament in Bengaluru gives new fillip to the sport, attracts youngsters Premium

Fourteen-year-old Jaiveer Varma moved from Hyderabad to Bengaluru three years back to join the Embassy International Riding School in Devanahalli where he is training to be an equestrian now. “My goal is the 2026 Youth Olympics and 2030 Asian Games,” says the young athlete whose words exude confidence and clarity

Fourteen-year-old Jaiveer Varma moved from Hyderabad to Bengaluru three years back to join the Embassy International Riding School in Devanahalli where he is training to be an equestrian now. “My goal is the 2026 Youth Olympics and 2030 Asian Games,” says the young athlete whose words exude confidence and clarity.

Varma is one among the 25-odd athletes being trained at the school run by veteran equestrian Silva Storai. He is also ready to take part in the 13th edition of the Equestrian Premier League (EPL) held by the school beginning on June 23. With his three horses, he will be competing in the 1 m, 1.05 m, 1.10 m, and 1.20 m categories. The competition will be held for three days every month until November.

EPL which had its humble beginnings in 2010 with just two clubs participating then has by now grown in size. This year the competition will see participation from 25 clubs from various parts of India including Bengaluru, Puducherry, Kanyakumari, Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai.

Silva Storai, the 64-year-old Italian-born Indian who became the first female jockey in India in 1992, runs the riding school. She seems to be on cloud nine as she talks about how the sport and the tournament have been gaining popularity.

It all started in 1996 when Ms Storai met Jitu Virwani, chairman of the Embassy Group, who was planning to start a riding school. managed to bring in highly qualified instructors from the British Royal Society who helped her set up a base for the equestrian sport in the city.

“It’s not just sitting on a horse and going around like a cowboy, which is what kids love the most,” Ms Storai laughs. “We all love to jump on a horse and have a good time. But that’s hobby, and then there’s the sport,” she says.

While training, she combines both so that if the students decide to take up riding as a profession later in life, they have a foundation for it.