Ready for the big event: defending champion Hua aims high

As Alex Hua Tian walks his horse through the stables of the Equestrian Park in Tokyo's Setagaya ward — the venue for the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games — he does so with unprecedented momentum.

Just weeks prior, Hua secured a historic 12th-place finish at the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany.

Riding Chicko, he scored 37.3 penalties to record the best World Championship result by a Chinese rider.

The performance lifted his FEI world ranking to No 17, setting a confident stage for his fourth Asiad appearance.

Hua made history at the 2008 Beijing Olympics when, at 18, he became the first rider representing China to compete in Olympic eventing. His career has continued to gather momentum since then, culminating in a historic breakthrough at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, where he won gold in both individual and team eventing.

This week, with the eventing competition scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, Hua's primary partner will be Manjushri, also known as Bodhi.

Fresh off a victory at the Burgham CCI3*-S international event, the gelding is described by Hua as focused and in good form.

"He's a good horse, and we have come to be as competitive as possible," Hua told China Daily, noting the horse recovered well after the flight to Japan. "This Asian Games, we have quite strong competition. A couple of very strong Indian riders, the Japanese riders brought a team, and some good Thai riders as well."

Despite his confidence, Hua faces a vastly different landscape within the Chinese national team. With experienced veterans like Liang Ruiji and Bao Yingfeng absent from the squad, the team has introduced new blood, including young riders Shao Han and Shu Yuying.

"It does feel transitional. This time I'm the oldest," Hua noted. "It's been a fairly long journey to this stage from the Beijing Olympic Games. Life has changed me a little bit, I know what I want, I know what I don't want. And I think that those things all come with time and age."

Stepping into a mentorship role, Hua prefers to observe and support quietly.

"For two riders in the team, this is their first international championship. It's a big, big thing for them. There's a lot of information to gather," Hua said.

"What they don't need is me adding more information and adding more pressure to that situation. Having said that, I'm always here for a conversation or a chat at any time."

Approaching the intense eventing schedule, Hua's mentality remains his defining asset.

"I tend to thrive under pressure. I enjoy the pressure," he said. "I love championships. I'm a championship rider. That's why I get up every day, to see these wonderful horses and compete them."

Yet, Hua is quick to deflect individual glory, emphasizing that equestrianism relies on a vast network of collaboration. He credited the Chinese Equestrian Association, his groom Holly Wharfe, and his dedicated horse owners.

"Without my horse owners, we have no horses, we have no sport, we have no competition," he said, thanking the families behind both Bodhi and his reserve horse, Gracie.

Beyond defending his medals, Hua also highlighted the need for a structured development system in Chinese equestrianism.

"What we need to now focus on with that growth is ensuring that there is a clear and well-set pathway from entry level up to championship level," Hua stressed. He pointed out that young talent needs strategic mentorship to navigate crucial career decisions regarding training and international logistics.

With the dressage test scheduled for Tuesday, Hua is not just focused on immediate Asiad success, but also long-term milestones, including the qualification process for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

But medals, he insists, are only a fraction of the pursuit.

"Every time we ride, every time we compete, we are also chasing partnership, we're also chasing friendship with our horse," Hua said. "If you are a real horseman, you balance the competitiveness with your horsemanship. And, in the end, that is the key to a long-term career."