Mumbai, March 3: Indian equestrian Anush Agarwal made a remarkable international debut at the prestigious Belgium Dressage Events with his horse, Floriana. This performance marks the beginning of his qualification journey for the upcoming Asian Games.
Competing against seasoned international riders, Anush stepped into the arena for the first time on February 28 with his 8-year-old straight horse, Floriana. Starting in the 14th position, he delivered a confident performance, achieving an impressive score of 68.85 percent, securing fourth place overall. This score reflects the synergy, precision, and maturity of his partnership with Floriana, especially considering it was their first competitive outing.
On March 1, Anush returned with his 10-year-old gelding, Flynn. Starting in fifth place, he improved his performance further, earning an impressive personal score of 70.3 percent. Surpassing the 70 percent mark in his debut series highlights his consistency and ability to perform under pressure.
The Belgium Dressage Events are a crucial part of Anush’s qualification campaign for the Asian Games, with two more qualification opportunities remaining before the continental showcase.
Reflecting on his debut, Anush stated, “Making my international debut in Belgium with Floriana has been a proud and significant moment for me. The level of competition is very high. It motivates you to be sharper in every movement and transition. I am very pleased with the performances of Floriana and Flynn; they trusted me completely in the arena. We are moving towards achieving something big with the Asian Games in mind. This is an important step in that journey.”
Another experienced Indian rider, Shruti Vora, also participated in this series, where Anush outperformed her. On February 28, Shruti scored 65.44 percent riding her horse, Magnanimous, finishing in 14th place.
With two qualification events still ahead, Anush’s steady start at the Belgium Dressage Events signals a strong momentum. This young equestrian is fully focused on qualifying and representing India at one of Asia’s largest sporting platforms.
Both Shruti Vora and Anush Agarwal have their sights set on qualifying for the 2026 Asian Games. India hopes to maintain the gold medals won at the Hangzhou Asian Games 2022, which were held a year late in 2023 due to the pandemic.
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