Tokyo Paralympics: Laurentia Tan fifth in dressage individual test
SINGAPORE — Singapore equestrienne Laurentia Tan could not add to her four-medal Paralympics career medal haul on Friday (27 August), after she scored 73.964 per cent with her horse Banestro to finish fifth out of 18 competitors in the dressage individual test (Grade I) at the Tokyo Paralympics.
The 42-year-old, who has cerebral palsy and profound deafness, will nevertheless advance to Monday's individual freestyle test, being among the top eight equestriennes in the competition.
The United States' Roxanne Trunnell clinched the gold medal with 81.464 per cent, while Latvia's Rihards Snikus earned the silver (80.179 per cent) and Italy's Sara Morganti won the bronze (76.964 per cent).
Tan, who is Singapore's first-ever Paralympic medallist, had won two bronzes at the 2008 Beijing Games as well as a silver and a bronze at the 2012 London Games.
Another Singapore equestrienne, Gemma Rose Foo, scored 61.857 per cent on her horse Gambler to finish in 17th place. The 25-year-old, who is taking part in her third straight Paralympics, did not advance to the individual freestyle test competition.
Both Tan and Foo will also be participating in the team test to music competition on Sunday, representing Singapore together with Maximillian Tan, who finished 11th in the Grade II category on Thursday.
Archer Syahidah Alim advances to Monday's quarter-finals
Earlier on Friday at the Yumenoshima Ranking Field, Singapore archer Syahidah Alim advanced into the quarter-finals of the women's individual compound open, after coming in seventh out of 24 competitors in the ranking round.
The current world No.2 scored 682 points from 72 arrows to set up a tie with either Turkey's Yorulmax Sevgi or Thailand's Homjanthuek Praphaporn on Monday. Britain's world No.1 Jessica Stretton was the top qualifier with 694 points.
"Physically I think I feel fine. The weather was really hot today. With the cooling strategies that we practised, it really helped. The wind is pretty strong, but... we managed to shoot in the wind pretty well with the guidance of my coach," Syahidah said after her event.
"Leading up to today, the training plan has been very intense and thorough. We will do our best to work closely with the training plan."
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