“This is the moment we have worked for” - Indian equestrian Anush Agarwalla gears up for Paris Olympics 2024
As the Paris 2024 Olympics nears its starting date, Indian equestrian Anush Agarwalla is gearing up for the Games along with his horse Sir Caramello.
The 24-year-old, who is India’s only representative at the equestrian sport in the Paris 2024 Olympics, posted a photograph with Sir Caramello and his coaching staff on his social media.
“Finally our journey to Paris starts tomorrow! This is the moment we have worked for and we couldn’t be more excited,” the caption read.
In the photograph, Agarwalla can be seen alongside his German-born horse, as well as his German coach Hubertus Schmidt.
From Kolkata to Germany, Anush Agarwalla represents India’s equestrian hopes at the Paris 2024 Olympics
Despite being born in Kolkata, Anush Agarwalla has spent the last seven years in Germany after moving to Borchen at the tender age of 17 to train under Athens 2004 Olympics gold medalist Hubertus Schmidt.
His deep bond with Sir Caramello has borne fruits, as he became the first Indian to win an individual dressage medal at an Asian Games with a bronze medal in 2022. He was also a part of the equestrian team that won India’s first team dressage gold in the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.
With his already impressive medals portfolio, Agarwalla beat fellow rider Shruti Vora to be the sole Indian equestrian representative in Paris. He will be the first Indian to take part in the dressage event at the Olympics, with India having previously competed in the individual eventing category.
While India has sent equestrian teams to four Olympic Games, including Tokyo 2020, it has yet to win any Olympic medals in the sport.
The equestrian events of the Paris 2024 Olympics will start on July 27 and will conclude on August 6, and will take place at the iconic Palace of Versailles, which is about 19 kilometers away from the French capital.