# Sresht Mantena Secures Team Gold at 2026 Youth Olympics Indian rider Mantena triumphs with Team Asia in Dakar equestrian competition. - **Source:** [Sportstar](https://sportstar.thehindu.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-06 - **Topic:** [sports](https://brifing.si/c/sports) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/ab21dd75-56fc-4e7a-add8-774e61d7f784 ## Historic Team Gold Victory Fifteen-year-old Indian athlete Sresht Mantena secured a gold medal at the 2026 Youth Olympics held in Dakar, Senegal. Competing as part of Team Asia, Mantena joined riders from the United Arab Emirates, China, and Indonesia. The multinational squad successfully outperformed Team Inter America and Team Africa to claim the top podium position. ## Equestrian Performance Details Mantena achieved this victory while riding his horse, Crazy Horse Boop. During the second day of qualifying rounds on Thursday, he demonstrated exceptional precision and control. He was one of only three riders throughout the entire competition who managed to remain perfect, successfully navigating the course without incurring any penalties during the qualifying phase. ## Medal Tally Clarification Despite the impressive performance and the gold medal win, the achievement will not be officially recorded toward India’s national medal tally. This is due to the specific format of the Youth Olympics team events, which feature multinational squads. Consequently, the victory is credited to the collective Team Asia rather than a single participating nation. ## Individual Final Preparation Following the team success, Mantena is preparing for the individual final scheduled for later this Friday. Although he performed flawlessly during the qualifying rounds, the rules dictate that previous scores will not be carried forward into the final event. Every rider will start the upcoming individual competition with a clean slate to determine the winner. ## Youth Olympic Competition Structure The Youth Olympic Games emphasize international cooperation by grouping athletes from different countries into mixed-nationality teams. This format aims to foster cross-cultural exchange among young competitors. By integrating riders from diverse regions like the Middle East and Asia, the event challenges participants to adapt quickly to teammates they do not typically train with. ## Technical Demands of Equestrianism Equestrian sports at the Youth Olympic level require high levels of synchronization between the rider and the horse. Avoiding penalties, as Mantena did, necessitates perfect timing and technical execution over complex obstacle courses. The ability to maintain this standard under the pressure of an international multi-sport event highlights the rider's significant skill development. ## Context of Dakar Games The 2026 Youth Olympics in Dakar marks a significant milestone as the first Olympic event hosted on the African continent. The equestrian venue in Senegal has been prepared to meet international standards for youth competition. Athletes like Mantena are competing in a high-stakes environment designed to prepare them for future senior-level Olympic participation. ## Future Career Implications Success at the Youth Olympics serves as a critical stepping stone for young equestrian athletes aiming for professional careers. By competing against global peers in a high-pressure environment, Mantena gains invaluable experience that will inform his future training. His performance in the upcoming individual final will be a key indicator of his long-term competitive potential. ## Sources covering this story - https://sportstar.thehindu.com/other-sports/sresht-mantena-gold-team-asia-youth-olympics-2026-news/article71673294.ece — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._