Malaysian equestrian athlete Diani Lee Cheng Ni and her horse Sam 1108 were eliminated from the dressage competition at the 2026 Asian Games following the qualifying rounds held at the JRA Equestrian Park in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo. After two days of competition, Diani finished 40th out of 43 riders with a combined score of 116.441 points.

On the first day of qualifying, Diani and Sam 1108 placed last among the field, posting a score of 56.677. However, the pair delivered a significantly improved performance on the second day, recording a score of 59.764, which helped narrow the gap behind leading competitors. Despite this better showing, it was insufficient for advancement, as only the top 15 riders from the qualifiers moved on to the individual final.

Reflecting on her performance, Diani acknowledged the challenges faced on the opening day but expressed pride in the team’s resilience. “It wasn’t the result I had hoped for, but that is also sport. We had a very difficult first day, and although Sam and I came back much stronger today, the gap was ultimately too much to recover,” she said. She also conveyed gratitude for the experience and for the support received, describing the event as a valuable learning opportunity.

Diani is a two-time Asian Games participant, having previously competed in the 2010 Guangzhou Games where she secured a bronze medal as part of Malaysia’s dressage team. Looking ahead, she intends to continue her equestrian career. “I will still keep riding, training and competing. This is not an end, but rather still quite a new beginning,” she said.

The dressage competition continues with the individual final scheduled to take place following the conclusion of the qualifying rounds.