Anush Agarwalla Equestrian: Olympics, Career and Biography

Anush Agarwalla’s journey into the world of equestrian sports began at the tender age of three when he started riding at the Tollygunge Club in Kolkata. What started as a weekend activity quickly blossomed into a deep-seated passion. By the age of eight, Agarwalla had begun formal training and was competing locally. His talent was evident early on, as he consistently excelled in his age group.

To advance in his sport, Agarwalla moved to Delhi, where he continued to dominate, notably at the Delhi Horse Show in 2014. However, the limitations in coaching and facilities in India led him to make a bold decision at 17—he moved to Germany to train under German Olympian Hubertus Schmidt. This move proved transformative for Agarwalla’s career.

Olympics

In a landmark achievement for Indian equestrian sports, Kolkata-born Anush Agarwalla will represent India in the Dressage event at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This will be the first time India has a contender in this category at the Olympics. Agarwalla, riding his horse Sir Caramello Old, secured the Olympic quota following impressive performances in several international competitions. His remarkable scores included 73.485% in Poland, 74.4% in the Netherlands, 72.9% in Germany, and 74.2% in Belgium. Agarwalla is set to become the eighth Indian rider to participate in the Olympics, though the first in the dressage category; the previous seven competed in eventing.

Career

Agarwalla’s international debut came at the 2022 Dressage World Championships, where he competed alongside 76 other riders and finished 71st with a score of 63.857%. Despite the modest ranking, it was a valuable learning experience for the young rider. His breakthrough came at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, where he clinched gold in the team dressage event alongside teammates Sudipti Hajela, Divyakritib, and Hriday Vipul. This victory marked India’s first gold in equestrian in 41 years and the first-ever medal in the dressage category. Additionally, Agarwalla made history by winning bronze in the individual dressage event, becoming India’s first individual medalist in this discipline.