New Delhi: Indian equestrian Anush Agarwalla already has a lot to boast about even before the beginning of the Paris Olympics 2024, for which he qualified back in February this year. It is going to be the very first time an Indian will be taking part in the dressage event of the Olympics. He is a part of the 117-member delegation sent by the Sports Authority of India to the French capital to represent India at the Summer Games.
Kolkata boy Agarwalla has risen the ranks to be at where he is today and his journey is a true example of sheer determination and grit. What sets him apart from the rest is that he chose a sport that is quite uncommon in India and moreover, became the only qualified Indian equestrian in the contingent that will vie for medals in their respective disciplines. Agarwalla, astride one of his favourite stallions, will aim to put up his best performance to bring laurels for the nation in a sport that hasn’t been much in the circuit.
All you need to know about Anush Agarwalla
Anush Agarwalla was born on November 23, 1999, in Kolkata and has strongly built himself to become a remarkable figure in the world of equestrian sports. He started riding at the age of three in his hometown Kolkata where also received his formal education at La Martiniere Calcutta. He has since then grown himself to an international equestrian star.
His parents introduced him to horseback riding at the tender age of three at a club in Kolkata and little did anyone know that his passion would take him to greater heights. He began his formal riding lessons at the age of eight and quickly made it to local children’s events but the little kiddo’s mind wondered about the prestigious sporting events such as the Asian Games and the Olympics in which he would dream of representing India.
To follow his dream, he relocated to New Delhi at age 11, juggling between studies and his actual passion. He has also revealed that he would fly to Delhi to take lessons during the weekends and would return back home by Sunday evening to make it to La Martiniere during the weekdays. His hard work ultimately delivered in the form of silver and gold medals at the esteemed Delhi Horse Show in 2014.
Aged 16, he was accepted by Sri Ram School in Aravalli for his higher secondary education but faced troubles in getting proper coaching in India. His passion and determination to become a professional dressage rider led him to Germany, where he trained under the mentorship of Olympic gold medalist Mr. Hubertus Schmidt. He overcame linguistic and cultural barriers, becoming India’s youngest Grand Prix rider and also notably securing his spot in the World Equestrian Championships.
Recent triumphs
His recent triumph at the Asian Games and the 2022 World Championships qualification has brought the youngster and the talented rider to the centrestage, making him the next stalwart in the international equestrian circuit. He has also opened up about qualifying for the 2022 World Championships which were held in Herning, Denmark, as his most memorable sporting achievement.
At the 2022 World Championships, he alongside Shruti Vora, became the first Indian dressage rider to compete at the Dressage World Championships. His next achievement came at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games which were delayed a year, happening in 2023. Representing India, he won a gold medal in the dressage team event in equestrian, which comprised Anush Agarwalla (Etro), Hriday Vipul Chheda (ChemXPro Emerald), Divyakriti Singh (Adrenalin Firfod) and Sudipti Hajela (Chinski). The gold metal brought an end to the 41-year-old drought.
At the same event, Agarwalla created history by winning a medal (bronze) in the individual dressage category, which is a feat India hadn’t managed to achieve till that point. Astride his stallion Etro, Agarwalla scored 73.030 for his bronze, which turned out to be India’s first medal in the dressage event at the Asian Games. His exploits at the Asian Games also bestowed him with the elite Arjuna Award by the President of India on January 9, 2024.
Having missed out on the Tokyo Games 2020 berth, he set his eyes on the Paris Olympics spot after becoming the Asian champion. He qualified for the Olympics and earned a quota berth for India on February 19, 2024, which he filled up and was finalised as the only representative of the sport from India. The 24-year-old is already a record maker in his sport and will strive for glory at the Paris Games, showcasing his exceptional skills to bring more pride to the nation.
Anush Agarwalla will be the first Indian to take part in the dressage event of the Olympics, being the only representative of the sport from India at the Paris Olympics 2024. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
