According to the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI), seven countries Russia, USA, Belarus, India, Pakistan, Sudan & Bahrain will be seen in action and top two will qualify for the World Cup which is slated to be held in South Africa in 2023.

World Cup Qualifiers will be a part of The Penta Grand 2021; which also includes National Equestrian Tent Pegging Championship, the Half Million Cup and the Noida Horse Show to be held at the Gautam Buddha University Sports Stadium, Greater Noida from 03rd to 14th March.

A total of 50+ International Riders, 250+ Indian Riders and more than 300 horses will participate at The Penta Grand.

Tent Pegging is a sport that features a mounted horseman riding at a gallop and uses a sword or a lance to pierce pickup and carry away a small ground target symbolic of a tent peg. Tent pegging was included as an official sport by Olympic Council of Asia in 1982 and is an International schedule game today.

National, Asian and International Equestrian will see competition in categories like: individual tent pegging – Lance, Team Tent Pegging – Lance, Individual Tent Pegging – Sword, Team Tent Pegging – Sword, Individual Rings & Pegs – Lance, Individual Lemon & Pegs – Sword, Paired Tent Pegging – Lance & Sword, Indian File – Lance & Sword.

According to the organising secretary of the championship Ahmad Afsar, “India has been the front runner in the promotion and development of Equestrian Tent Pegging around the world.. We are sure that by organising this year’s edition of both the World Cup Qualifiers (International) Equestrian Tent Pegging Championship and National Equestrian Championship we would immensely help in giving the sport the recognition and exposure that is due to it."

In India the sport had been popularised by Indian Maharaja’s and Nawab’s but it has dwindled in participation in the recent years.” But now thanks to some prominent teams like Haryana Police, Punjab Police, 61 Cavalry, PBG, ASC, RVC, Assam Rifles, BSF, ITBP, Bihar Police, AMU Riding Club etc, the Sport is growing. Ahmad added.

EFI secretary general Col Jaiveer Singh opined "During this tough Sporting year (2020-21), the EFI has successfully conducted all National Championships for Dressage, Eventing, Show Jumping and Endurance. Being a NO CONTACT Sport helped the Sport to continue. Tent Pegging is one of the most thrilling and exciting Sport of Equestrian.

Efforts are being made by the Federation (EFI) through a constant dialogue with Asian Equestrian federation (AEF) to get Tent Pegging re-included in the Asian Games.

He said, "Getting World Cup Qualifier for the first time in the country especially during these testing times had been an ardent task, but we have an established OC in Equiwings which we are certain would make this event add glory to India.”