Tent Pegging Championship

Team Canada has triumphed at the 2008 International Tent Pegging Championships held in India, winning an unprecedented three gold medals and one bronze medal out of the four team disciplines.
The team’s captain, Akaash Maharaj, is the first Canadian to compete at the world championships.

Tent pegging has been practised for 2,500 years and is one of only ten recognized disciplines of the Fédération internationale équestre, the global governing body for Olympic and international equestrian sport. Galloping riders use sword and lance to spear targets. The term “tent pegging” descends from the historical use of tent stakes as targets during exercises held in cavalry encampments.

Team Canada is supporting UNICEF Canada’s campaign to fight AIDS in India to provide HIV and AIDS treatment and fund prevention projects for children, youth and mothers.

There are 2.5 million people living with HIV and AIDS in India. Fifty per cent of new infections are in young people between 15 and 24 years old. Women account for 38 per cent of new infections, a trend with serious implications as more HIV-positive mothers may unknowingly pass the virus on to their children.