The Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) said on Monday that Anush Agarwalla, who not only contributed to the team’s gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games but also claimed a historic individual bronze medal for India, has secured India a quota in the dressage discipline for the Paris Olympics later this year.
The seven Indian equestrian riders who have previously competed at an Olympics have all rode in the eventing discipline. This is the first time an Indian rider will compete in the dressage event.
How the equestrian quota was won by Anush Agarwalla
Agarwalla’s quota was determined by his results in four FEI events: Mechelen, Belgium (74.2%), Frankfurt, Germany (72.9%), Kronenberg, Netherlands (74.4%), and Wroclaw, Poland (73.485%).
“I am incredibly happy and appreciative that I was able to get India a spot at the Olympics in Paris. I’ve always wanted to compete in the Olympics, and I’m honoured to be a part of this historic time for the country,” the 24-year-old Agarwalla said.
What is the current status of the horse quota?
It should be mentioned that even though Agarwalla claimed the quota for India, he cannot guarantee he will compete in the Olympics in Paris because the quota is national property. In a statement, the National Federation stated that it will hold a final trial prior to submitting the chosen name to the Paris Olympics organizers.
The young rider expressed his hope that he would be able to hold onto the quota for horses.
“I’ll carry on with my routine of maintaining discipline, working hard, setting and attaining goals, and remaining focused. Agarwalla expressed confidence in his selection to represent India at this esteemed platform.
Anush Agarwalla who?
Anush Agarwalla, a resident of Kolkata, began riding horses at Tollygunge at the same time as his father, uncle, and cousins.
To improve her eventing skills, Agarwalla would go to Delhi every school weekend when she was eleven years old to sixteen. After assisting India in winning a gold medal in team dressage at the Asian Games, he had told The Indian Express last year, “Thank goodness, my family understood my dream.”
When he first relocated to Europe in order to pursue a career as a professional rider, no one there desired to instruct him.
He had hopes of being selected for the 2018 Asiad squad, but was not successful. Anush claimed that after learning he didn’t qualify, he went into despair. “I find it hard to accept defeat.” In a conversation with The Indian Express, he recalled, “I was depressed for months and couldn’t sleep at night.” Things got worse after he moved up to the Grand Prix level in Europe and was unable to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics until December 31, 2019.
Have Indian horseback riders ever participated in an Olympics?
India’s only equestrian competitor at the postponed Tokyo Olympics was Fouaad Mirza. Prior to Mirza, Indian competitors at the Summer Games included Imtiaaz Anees (Sydney 2000), Indrajit Lamba (Atlanta 1996), Jitendrajit Singh Ahluwalia, Hussain Singh, Mohammed Khan, and Darya Singh (all Moscow 1980).
What is the event for dressage?
The 20 x 60-meter arena in which the rider-horse combination competes has a low rail around it that the horse must stay inside.
There are twelve symmetrically positioned lettered markers in the equestrian arena that show the beginning, middle, and end of the movements.
Preliminary, elementary, medium, advanced medium, advanced, Prix St. George, and Intermediate-I are the seven stages.
On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 represents extremely poor and 10 represents excellent.
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