Anush Agarwalla etched his name in the annals of Indian equestrian history by securing a historic bronze medal in the Dressage Individual competition at the Tonglu Equestrian Centre during the Asian Games.
Riding atop his trusted steed, Etro, Agarwalla delivered a stellar performance, achieving a remarkable percentage score of 73.030. This achievement marked a significant milestone as he became the first Indian to claim an Individual medal in dressage at the Asian Games. India had previously excelled in events like Eventing, show jumping, and tent pegging, but Agarwalla’s bronze in Dressage Individual added a new chapter to their accomplishments.
This triumph followed India’s gold medal in the Dressage Team competition, where Anush Agarwalla, along with teammates Hriday Chheda, Sudipti Hajela, and Divyakriti Singh, had emerged victorious just a couple of days earlier.
However, the Indian contingent experienced a twist of fate as Hriday Chheda, who had been performing admirably throughout the competition, faced elimination on Thursday. Chheda had entered the final day in the lead position, with Mohd Qabil from Malaysia in second place and Jacqueline Sui from Hong Kong in third place, while Anush Agarwalla held the fourth position.
Regrettably, Hriday Chheda’s horse, Chemxpro Emerald, refused to enter the arena for Thursday’s routine. Furthermore, when the horse was eventually coaxed into participating, it sustained an injury, resulting in a minor amount of blood on its left foreleg. According to equestrian competition regulations, the presence of blood on a horse’s body leads to direct elimination. Thus, Hriday Chheda, despite his strong performance, was eliminated from the event.
Anush Agarwalla’s historic bronze medal victory was celebrated with joy and pride. He expressed his elation, stating, “The feeling is really unreal. I still don’t feel that I won the bronze. After winning the Team gold already, I knew that it would be good. I knew that I had a good partnership with my horse, and when I woke up in the morning, I knew it would be good.”
Reflecting on the challenges faced during his journey, Agarwalla added, “It’s been a long, long journey, a very, very difficult one. A lot of times I thought ‘OK, I am not good enough.’ But holding this medal is worth it.”
Anush Agarwalla experienced tense moments as the last rider performed the final routine. Eventually, the stars aligned, and the bronze medal became his.
Hailing Hriday Chheda despite the elimination, Agarwalla said, “It’s a great pity. He is a great competitor, but it is part and parcel of the sport. We rise and we fall together. On top of that, he was also winning the test yesterday, so that shows that he is good enough. He just had bad luck today.”
The Asian Games equestrian championships witnessed intense competition and showcased the determination and sportsmanship of the participants.
-IANS
