India's Narredu to spearhead Asia's charge in historic Shergar Cup revamp at Ascot
Suraj Narredu, one of India's most decorated jockeys, is set to make history once again — this time as captain of the newly formed Asia Team in the 2025 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup at Ascot Racecourse.
The multiple-time Indian champion, whose name has long been synonymous with excellence on the subcontinent's racing scene, will be making his Shergar Cup debut in this year's edition — and not just as a participant, but as the man leading the charge for the first-ever Asia Team.
The team makes its debut this year, replacing the long-running Ladies Team, as the Shergar Cup embraces a new chapter that celebrates international diversity and gender equality.
Joining Narredu in Team Asia's red silks are Japanese sensation Ryusei Sakai — currently one of the most recognisable names in global racing thanks to his partnership with the world's highest-rated horse, Forever Young — and fellow countryman Mirai Iwata, the 2023 World All-Star Jockeys champion.
Crowning Moment
For Narredu, the appointment as captain is more than symbolic. It's a culmination of an extraordinary career that has seen him amass over 2,400 wins worldwide, including 54 Group 1 victories — an astonishing 36 of which were Derby titles.
He was just 25 when he became the fastest Indian jockey to reach 1,000 career wins, and his success has taken him far beyond the Indian turf, with stints in Dubai, Australia, Ireland, France, the United States, Malaysia, Mauritius, and Macau.
'This is more than just a race meeting for me,' said Narredu. 'To represent Asia, and to lead a team with such incredible talent like Ryusei and Mirai, is truly an honour. The Shergar Cup has always been a standout event, and this new format only raises the bar.'
The 2025 edition of the Shergar Cup, taking place on Saturday, August 9, will once again be staged at the iconic Ascot Racecourse and will feature six high-calibre handicap races with a total prize pool of £500,000, along with £25,000 in stable bonuses.
Racing Meets Regional Rivalry
In a format that breaks away from the conventional mould of racing, jockeys will compete in Ryder Cup-style teams based on geographical regions, with points accumulated across the races to determine the overall champions.
Dubai Duty Free's title sponsorship of the event is also continued for a 20th year.
"Back in 2009, my uncle Malesh Narredu made history as the first Indian jockey to ride in the prestigious Shergar Cup, representing the Rest of the World team,' said Suraj. 'I had the incredible opportunity to travel with him and witness it firsthand."
Narredu's appointment is also a landmark moment for Indian racing on the world stage. While horses from the sub-continent have yet to make consistent inroads internationally, Narredu's selection as captain is a nod to the country's deep pool of riding talent and its growing influence in the global racing circuit.
Other star names set to feature include Hollie Doyle, the trailblazing and history-making British jockey who will lead the Great Britain & Ireland team, and Mauritian ace Karis Teetan, captain of the Rest of the World team. The European team will be led by ten-time Swedish champion Per-Anders Gråberg, returning to Ascot for his first Shergar Cup appearance since 2018.
New Format Hailed
Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs at Ascot, hailed the evolution of the event: 'We feel now is the time to move away from a ladies-only team, and this new evolution of the format keeps the event fresh.'
'We're pleased to have secured top talent from across the world to compete at the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup with at least eight different countries set to be represented already.
'We feel now is the time to move away from a ladies-only team, and this new evolution of the format keeps the event fresh.'
With the inclusion of a concert and party following the races the Shergar Cup continues to blend top-tier sport with entertainment, drawing a diverse and enthusiastic crowd.
Riding for a Legacy
But for Narredu, it's not just the spotlight that matters — it's the colours he'll wear and the legacy he's creating.
'Wearing the red silks of Asia, riding alongside two world-class jockeys, and captaining this team at a venue as iconic as Ascot… it's a dream,' he said. 'I'll be riding not just for myself, but for Indian racing and for everyone who has supported my journey.'
As the Shergar Cup embraces its boldest reinvention yet, it seems only fitting that a trailblazer like Narredu takes centre stage.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Dubai Eye
10 hours ago
- Dubai Eye
Baseball United to find players through Japan's reality series
Baseball United, the pro league focused on the Middle East and South Asia, will partner with Tokyo Broadcast System (TBS) to give young Japanese hopefuls a shot at becoming professional players. The competition series, called TRYOUT: PLAN D, will see hundreds of prospects competing for two roster spots on the Mid East Falcons, one of Baseball United's founding franchises. The winners will play for the Falcons later this year during Baseball United's inaugural season in Dubai. The series will be presented in collaboration with TBS's iconic documentary programme Birthday, known for its behind-the-scenes look at athletes' transformative journeys. TRYOUT participants will endure several stages of competition, from July to November. One pitcher and one batter will ultimately be selected through a series of intense challenges that measure baseball skill, mental toughness, physical fitness and passion for the game. The winners will be announced just before the start of Baseball United's first season, which begins on November 14 in Dubai. " TRYOUT is more than just a competition – it's a celebration of culture, a catalyst of opportunity, and a testament of resilience. We are honored to collaborate with TBS and the legendary Birthday team to bring this vision to life," said Kash Shaikh, Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder, Baseball United. TRYOUT will begin airing in July on TBS linear and digital platforms, with behind-the-scenes content and exclusive footage shared across Baseball United's global channels. The two winners will be officially introduced as members of the Mid East Falcons before the team's game against the Karachi Monarchs, on Wednesday, November 19. "Partnering with Baseball United for TRYOUT allows us to elevate that mission by offering young Japanese players the opportunity of a lifetime – to transform their lives through sport, and to do so on a truly international platform," said Hidemitsu Takahashi, Producer of the show from Tokyo Broadcasting System.
Sharjah 24
11 hours ago
- Sharjah 24
Sharjah opens door to baseball championships
During the meeting, both sides explored avenues of cooperation to promote the sport and organise championships, in light of its significant popularity among Asian communities. The initiative also aims to add a new promotional platform for Sharjah, enhancing its regional and international presence through sports. A Global Brand with Regional Aspirations Baseball United was founded in November 2022 and supports 20 globally renowned teams, including the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Boston Red Sox. As a recognised international brand, its championships attract millions of viewers around the world—in Asia, the United States, Canada, Japan, and Latin America. The organisation is now on its way to launching the first professional league involving teams from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the Indian subcontinent. Foundations for the Game in Sharjah During the meeting, discussions were held on establishing a dedicated headquarters for the sport and developing baseball fields as a foundation for spreading the game. Plans include organising local competitions and hosting international championships in the future. The two sides also explored initiatives to launch youth academies and school programmes to scout talent, as well as leveraging the global league platform to market Sharjah as a sports, tourism, and educational destination for baseball. Sharjah's Competitive Edge Following the meeting, His Excellency Issa Hilal Al Hazami emphasised that Sharjah possesses the right environment to promote baseball, especially considering its popularity among Asian communities. He pointed out that the sport shares many similarities with cricket—a game that already holds a distinguished position in the Emirate, thanks to its large fan base and the iconic Sharjah Stadium, which hosts international championships. He stressed that incorporating baseball and participating in the Asian league would ensure guaranteed promotion and significant exposure for the emirate. Optimism for a Fruitful Partnership The head of the visiting delegation expressed his gratitude to the Chairman of the Council for the warm welcome and the positive outcomes of the meeting. He also conveyed his optimism about the anticipated collaboration between the two sides and the transformative impact this partnership could have on the sport both locally and internationally.
Gulf Today
20 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Bollywood star Deepika Padukone talks about how badminton shaped her life
As her Padukone School of Badminton aims to 75 Centres in a year, actress Deepika Padukone talked about how the sport has shaped her life as she grew up playing the sport. Deepika took to Instagram, where she shared a picture posing with her father Prakash Padukone, a former star badminton player. She wrote: 'As someone who grew up playing badminton, I've experienced firsthand how much this sport can shape one's life — physically, mentally, and emotionally.' The star also shared a note about how the Padukone School of Badminton expands to 75 centres in a year. She added: 'Through Padukone School of Badminton(PSB), we hope to bring the joy and discipline of Badminton to people from all walks of life, and build a generation that is healthier, more focused, and inspired by sport.' The press note read: 'The Padukone School of Badminton (PSB), founded and funded by Deepika Padukone and mentored by former World No. 1 and All England Champion Prakash Padukone, has achieved a significant milestone by establishing over 75 grassroots coaching centres across 18 Indian cities-including Bengaluru, NCR, Mumbai, Chennai, Jaipur, Pune, Nashik, Mysuru, Panipat, Dehradun, Udaipur, Coimbatore, Sangli, and Surat-within its first year of operations.' With its mission of 'Badminton for All,' PSB now aims to scale to 100 centres by the end of this year and 250 within the next three years, the note added. The note further stated that the academy's vision is to democratize access to quality and affordable badminton coaching, providing opportunities for people of all ages and skill levels. 'Through its standardized, scalable coaching methodology, developed under the guidance of Prakash Padukone, the organization seeks to introduce a nationwide community of school children and working professionals to the sport. It also aims to empower aspiring coaches with certified training and sustainable career paths.' Meanwhile, the makers of Telugu star Allu Arjun's upcoming film with director Atlee, being tentatively referred to as AA22 X A6, on Saturday welcomed Deepika onboard the film's unit. The production house shared a video of Atlee meeting Deepika Padukone and narrating the script to her. The clip also gives a glimpse of Deepika Padukone's motion capture portions in the film. The visuals give the impression that Deepika Padukone plays a queen, who rides a horse and wields a sword in the film. The film, which has already triggered huge expectations as it is believed that it will be like no other film that has ever been done before, will have world class experts working on it. Well known VFX supervisor James Madigan, who is known for having worked in films like 'Iron Man 2' and 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts,' had said, 'I just got done reading the script and I got to say, my head is still spinning.' Indo-Asian News Service
