Indian equestrian Anush Agarwalla was knocked out of the Paris Olympics 2024 on Wednesday, July 31. Agarwalla finished ninth in the Dressage Grand Prix event and bowed out of the ongoing 33rd edition of the Paris Games 2024. Earlier, the 2022 Asiad gold medallist created history and became the first Indian to complete a routine in the dressage event at the Summer Olympic Games.
Agarwalla, placed in Group E, was the fourth rider to start his routine and was awarded 66.444 by the judges. With his scores, he finished ninth in the standings. Given that the top 2 athletes from each group advanced to the Individual Final (Grand Prix Freestyle), the Indian equestrian failed to make it to the next round.
Agarwalla’s partner during the tournament was a 17-year-old horse, Sir Caramello Old. Earlier in Tokyo 2020, Fouaad Mirza represented India in equestrian. Imtiaz Anees, Indrajit Lamba, Jitendrajit Singh Ahluwalia, Hussain Singh, Mohammed Khan and Darya Singh represented India at the Sydney 2000, Atlanta 1996, and Moscow 1980 editions of the Summer Games.
In 2024, Anush became the first Indian equestrian to qualify in the individual dressage event at the marquee tournament. Earlier on Tuesday, Anush shared a social media post and wrote,” Sir Caramello and I are ready to live the Olympic dream tomorrow!! Caramello felt great today in training and the excitement couldn’t be any bigger to enter the iconic arena tomorrow!! Best wishes to all the athletes competing in the event starting today”