Anush Agarwalla: India's Trailblazer in Olympic Dressage

Agarwalla's journey to this historic Olympic berth has been nothing short of extraordinary. Securing the Olympic quota in February, the 2022 Asian Games gold medalist has shown unwavering consistency throughout the qualification period, achieving the Minimum Eligibility Requirement an impressive four times. His participation is a testament to his perseverance and the immense trust he has built with his horse, Sir Caramello Old, a bond that he believes is crucial for success in dressage.

 

His qualification for Paris 2024 was never an easy run as he was closely contested by Shruti Vora. A rider-horse combination is required to achieve a minimum of 67% for at least two times within the span of January 1, 2023, and June 24, 2024 – the eligibility criteria set by the Equestrian Federation of India to qualify for Paris Olympics. It was a close fight between the two contestants, but in the end, Anush went clear of his competitor on a better average to seal his berth in Paris. While Shruti’s average score stood at 67.163, Anush recorded an average of 67.695.

In a recent interview, the 24-year-old provided insight into his training and philosophy. "You can’t whip the horse and get good results," Agarwalla emphasized. "The trust level with your horse has to be immaculate. Bonding is key, and I have been lucky, both in Hangzhou and when I obtained the Olympic quota because the mental and physical health of the rider and his animal have to match perfectly."

 

As the only Olympic sport involving an animal, equestrian events require a unique synergy between the rider and the horse. "Building relationships with horses, it's just like building relationships with people," Agarwalla explained in a recent interview. "It takes time. Relationships are not built over a matter of a couple of hours or a couple of days. I spent a lot of time together with him."

As the nation awaits the much-anticipated debut of Anush Agarwalla in the Dressage event in Equestrian, we laud the hard work and determination shown by him. He is one of the eleven RF athletes who are taking part in this edition of the Summer Games. The aim of Reliance Foundation to produce more and more Olympians is coming to fruition with the country getting represented in such events like Equestrian. RF athlete Anush Agarwalla’s participation in the Paris Olympics testifies to the fact that our initiative to focus on grassroots sports is paying dividends in producing such talented youngsters.

 

With his outstanding record and deep connection with his horse, Anush Agarwalla stands a promising chance at the Paris Olympics. His gold-winning performance at the Asian Games 2022 has already set high expectations, and as he prepares to compete on the world stage, India watches with hope and pride.