(ATTN: ADDS more info from para 6, new photo)
By Kim Boram
NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Nam Dong-heon won the gold medal in the individual dressage event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Sunday, bringing home the country's first Asiad title in the event in 12 years.
Nam scored 75.190 points to finish first in the event's final at Equestrian Park in Tokyo.
Yu Jiayi of China won the silver medal with 75.050 points, while Aleksandra Maksakova of Palestine took bronze with 74.935 points.
Nam Dong-heon of South Korea (C) stands on the podium after winning gold in the individual dressage event in equestrian at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Game at Equestrian Park in Tokyo on Sept. 27, 2026, in this photo provided by the Korea Equestrian Federation. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Sunday's gold medal marked South Korea's first title in the individual dressage event since the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.
Nam also won a silver medal in the team dressage event Friday.
South Korea had swept the individual dressage gold medal from the 2002 Asian Games through 2014, with the winning streak ending in 2018. At the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, the country failed to win any medal for the first time since the event was first contested in 1986.
Nam Dong-heon of South Korea rides on his horse, Leodidas, with his gold medal after the individual dressage event in equestrian at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Game at Equestrian Park in Tokyo on Sept. 27, 2026, in this photo provided by the Korea Equestrian Federation. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Dressage is a form of horse riding performed in exhibition and competition, with riders executing memorized sequences and directing their horses to perform the requested movements.
For each dressage movement, horses and riders are judged against a common standard, with judges evaluating the horse's gaits, submission and impulsion, as well as the rider's performance.
Nam and his horse, Leonidas, scored 70.559 points in the dressage team final, which also served as the qualifier for the individual final, recording the highest score among all participants.
He improved to 75.190 points in the individual final, edging out the Chinese rider by 0.140 point.
Nam said he was pleased to win medals at his third Asian Games. At his first two Asiad appearances, he failed to win a medal.
"In the team event, I was so touched that all our team members got on the podium. This was the most impressive moment at this Asian Games," Nam said in a video interview with the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee.
"And I want to thank my horse, Leonidas, for doing its best. We have gone through many hard times."
South Korea's Nam Dong-heon performs during the dressage team final of equestrian during the 20th Asian Games at Aichi-Nagoya at Equestrian Park in Tokyo on Sept. 25, 2026, in this Xinhua photo. (Yonhap)
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