Anush Aggarwalla bids adieu to Paris Olympics 2024 despite a spirited performance in the individual dressage qualification round
India's lone equestrian representative, Anush Aggarwalla, made a noteworthy Olympic debut in the individual dressage event at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. Competing alongside his horse, Sir Caramello, Aggarwalla became the first Indian to compete in dressage at the Olympics.
The event, held at the prestigious Château de Versailles, saw him face formidable competition from seasoned riders around the globe.
In a challenging Group E, Aggarwalla finished ninth out of ten participants, with an average score of 66.444 percent. He initially started strong, positioning himself fourth in the group, but gradually slipped down the rankings.
His scores from various judges were: 64.239% from H, 67.500 percent from E, 66.196 percent from H, 66.087 percent from C, 67.717 percent from M, 66.304 percent from B, and 67.065 percent from F. Despite a solid start, he couldn't maintain his position among the top qualifiers, with his final performance reflecting the stiff competition and high stakes of the event.
The competition saw Denmark's Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour lead with an exceptional score of 80.792 percent on Atterupgaards Cassidy, followed by Germany's Isabell Werth and her horse Weihegold OLD with 79.363 percent.
British rising star Charlotte Fry also delivered an impressive performance, scoring 78.913 percent with Glamourdale. While Aggarwalla's Olympic campaign ended in the preliminaries, his presence on this grand stage has undoubtedly set a new precedent for Indian equestrian sports.
Anush Aggarwalla joins elusive list with debut in Paris Olympics 2024
Anush Aggarwalla's participation in the Olympics marks a significant achievement in Indian equestrian history. In 2023, he made headlines by securing India's first individual dressage medal at the Asian Games, winning a bronze on Etro.
Additionally, Anush Aggarwalla contributed to India's gold medal win in team dressage at the same event in Hangzhou. His accomplishments have earned him a place among an elite group of Indian equestrians who have competed at the Olympic level, following in the footsteps of Fouaad Mirza (Tokyo 2020), Imtiaaz Anees (Sydney 2000), Indrajit Lamba (Atlanta 1996), and several others who represented India at the Moscow 1980 Olympics.