BANGKOK: Megan Ding has made SEA Games equestrian history as the youngest individual winner.
Megan, only 17, stunned a field of accomplished competitors to win the women's individual dressage title at the Thai Polo and Equestrian Club on Tuesday (Dec 16).
Megan, astride her horse Gaudi Vita, wowed the judges with a flawless presentation to score 76.525 points in the freestyle individual final.
Pawarisa Thongpradup clinched silver for Thailand with 71.135 points while her fellow compatriot Nynn Puttisombat took bronze with 70.410.
Megan topped the list of eight competitors to advance to the freestyle final after scoring 72.000 ahead of Thongpradup (69.471) and Puttisombat (69.353).
Equestrian is making a return to the SEA Games programme after it was last held in Kuala Lumpur in 2017.
Former national athlete and dressage coach Qabil Ambak was pleased with the youngster's achievement.
"I rode in my first SEA Games in Chiangmai in 1995 when I was only 15 and earned bronze," said Qabil.
"It was only in 2001 SEA Games in KL when I won my first gold medal. Megan has surpassed my records and for a debutant that is very impressive achievement."
