Anush Agarwalla Secures Quota Place for India in Dressage Discipline for Paris Olympics
New Delhi, Feb 19 (IANS) Anush Agarwalla, the gold medalist in Team Dressage at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, has achieved a significant milestone by securing a quota place for India in the dressage discipline for the Paris Olympics, as confirmed by the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) on Monday.
Agarwalla, who also won an individual bronze in Hangzhou, was allotted the quota based on his impressive performances in four FEI events held in different countries. These events include Wroclaw, Poland (73.485%), Kronenberg, Netherlands (74.4%), Frankfurt, Germany (72.9%), and Mechelen, Belgium (74.2%). The National Federation will conduct a final trial before sending the final name to the organizers, as the quota belongs to the country.
Expressing his joy and pride, Anush Agarwalla said, “Competing in the Olympics has always been a childhood dream for me, and I’m proud to be part of this historical moment for the nation. I am very proud and grateful to have been successful in securing a berth for India at the Paris Olympic Games.”
He also expressed his determination to retain the quota and continue representing India on the prestigious stage, stating, “I will continue doing what I have always been doing: staying focused, being disciplined, working hard, setting goals and achieving them. I am confident that I will be selected to represent India at this prestigious stage.”
EFI Secretary General Col Jaiveer Singh congratulated the rider and emphasized the pride and significance of Anush’s achievement. “It is a matter of pride that Anush’s consistent show in the FEI events has secured the quota for India. Indian riders have been making their presence felt in the FEI events, and it is not at all surprising that India will yet again have representation in the Olympics in the equestrian events,” said Col Jaiveer.
With this achievement, Anush Agarwalla has joined the ranks of talented equestrian athletes who have represented India at the Olympics, including Tokyo Olympian Fouaad Mirza and previous Olympians, namely Indrajit Lamba, Imtiaaz Anees, and Darya Singh.
Dressage is a discipline where the rider-horse combination performs in an arena, and the scoring is done on a scale of 1 to 10. The rider and horse must adhere to specific movements and transitions within the designated arena. This achievement marks a significant step forward for Indian equestrian sports and showcases the talent and potential of Indian riders on the global stage.
–IANS
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