[Asian Games] Korea wins gold in team dressage equestrian at Asiad

South Korea claimed a much-anticipated gold in the team dressage equestrian event at the Asian Games on Saturday, extending its winning streak at the multinational event to five.

Hwang Young-shik, Chung Yoo-yeon and Kim Dong-seon of South Korea combined for an average of 71.746 points in Incheon, ahead of second-place Japan with 69.842 points on average.

Hwang, 23, was the best rider among all 32 with 74.342 points.

The gold was his third consecutive title at the Asian Games following two golds at the 2010 Asiad.

Kim Dong-seon ranked third overall with 71.237 points. Raised under a South Korean business magnate, the 25-year-old had previously won golds in the team dressage event at the 2006 and 2010 Asian Games.

Chung had the third-best score for South Korea at 69.658 points.

Kim Kyun-sub, a fourth rider for South Korea, posted the worst score, 68.816, on the team and it was not included in the final tally, as the event only counts the three best scores on each team.

Kim was still able to keep his promise of winning a gold that would honor his late uncle, Kim Hyung-chil. The elder Kim, also an equestrian, died at the Doha Asian Games in 2002 while attempting a jump during the cross-country portion of eventing.

The dressage team final on Saturday doubled as the first individual qualification round. Up to the three best riders from each country may proceed to the second round on Sunday.

South Korea has swept all the golds up for grabs in the discipline in the past four Asian Games. It has collected 11 golds since the inaugural Games in 1951, trailing only Japan.  (Yonhap)