Anush Agarwalla chosen by EFI to represent India in Equestrian at Paris 2024 Olympics
The Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) has selected Anush Agarwalla to represent India at the Paris Olympics 2024. Moreover, Agarwalla will be a part of the Dressage event, marking India's maiden entry into the discipline as previously riders took part in Eventing categories only.
To make his road to the Summer Games smooth, Agarwalla surpassed Shruti Vora on better average. The federation carefully assessed both riders' recent performances and came to the decision of sending Agarwalla to the showpiece event. The decision was taken by the Executive Council and the stamp was put on by the president.
Notably, Anush Agarwalla had been performing well since last year when the qualification period commenced. He achieved the Minimum Eligibility Requirement four times compared to Vora's two. His four attempts were 67.936% (Wiesbaden, May 2024), 68.261% (December 2023 in Mechelen), 67.152% (December 2023 in Frankfurt), and 67.804% (October 2023 in Wroclaw).
Meanwhile, Shruti Vora had earned her first MER earlier this month, when she became the first Indian rider to win a three-star Grand Prix event Dressage World Cup (67.761%). The second one came at the Brno Grand Prix in Czech Republic (68.174%). Her other two GP performances were below par.
As per the EFI's criteria, a rider-horse combination needs to achieve a minimum of 67% twice between January 1, 2023 and June 24, 2024, to be eligible for qualification to the Paris Olympics.
After the EFI's evaluation, they found out that Agarwalla has an average of 67.695% while Vora has 67.163%.
India in Equestrian at the Olympics
India has never won a medal in Equestrian at the Olympics. The country fielded its first riders back in the Moscow Olympics 1980. Notably, Jitendrajit Singh Ahluwalia, Hussain Singh, Mohammed Khan, and Darya Singh competed for India that time. The Atlanta Olympics 1996 saw Indrajit Lamba take the pitch while the Sydney Games witnessed Imtiaz Anees take on the responsibility. India's latest fray was made by Fouaad Mirza at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.