The Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) has selected Anush Agarwalla to represent India in the Dressage event at the forthcoming Paris Olympics. After carefully evaluating the contestants’ recent performances, he edged out Shruti Vora on a better average. It would be India’s first-ever appearance at the Olympics’ Dressage event, as most riders have previously competed in Eventing classifications exclusively.

The 2022 Asian Games gold medalist (with his horse Sir Caramello Old) has been consistent since the Qualification period began last year, meeting the Minimum Eligibility Requirement four times, while veteran Shruti Vora earned the required two MERs this month. When the averages of the contestants were taken into account, Anush was declared the winner. His average score of 67.695% was higher than Shruti’s 67.163%.

To qualify for the Paris Games, a rider-horse combination must score a minimum of 67% twice between January 1, 2023, and June 24, 2024, according to the Federation’s rules. According to EFI selection rules, if more than one athlete is qualified, the athlete with the highest Grand Prix average from the best four events in the previous year will be picked to compete. Scores from FEI level competitions 3* and higher are counted. These scores must be attained at MER events taking place between 2023 and 2024.

Shruti (with horse Magnanimous) achieved her second MER of the year with a second-place performance at the Brno Grand Prix in the Czech Republic, where she scored 68.174 in the Dressage event, making her eligible for Olympic qualification. Shruti received her first MER earlier last month when she became the first Indian rider to win a three-star Grand Prix event, the Dressage World Cup, in Lipica, Slovenia, with 67.761. Her other two GP efforts, with scores of 66.543% and 66.174%, were below the MER standard.

Anush Agarwalla obtained MERs four times: 67.936% (Wiesbaden, May 2024), 68.261% (Mechelen, December 2023), 67.152% (Frankfurt, December 2023), and 67.804% (Wroclaw, October 2023).

The Executive Council reached a unanimous conclusion, and the President put his stamp on this decision. Fouaad Mirza competed for India in the 2020 Tokyo Games. Imtiaz Anees competed in the 2000 Sydney Games, whereas Indrajit Lamba took part in the 1996 Atlanta Games. Jitendrajit Singh Ahluwalia, Hussain Singh, Mohammed Khan, and Darya Singh all competed in the 1980 Moscow Games.