Tokyo Olympics: Fouaad Mirza becomes first Indian equestrian to qualify for the final round

Tokyo Olympics: Fouaad Mirza becomes first Indian equestrian to qualify for the final round

Fouaad Mirza

India’s lone equestrian Fouaad Mirza has scripted history at the Tokyo Games. Mirza became the first-ever Indian to make it an Olympic final in the sport. He returned with penalties of 47.20 to make it to the finals with his partner Seigneur. While Mirza was the last of the 25 who qualified, it is a moment of immense pleasure for each Indian.

Mirza will be featuring the individual jumping final after finishing 25th in the qualifying round. The Bangalore lad is the first Indian equestrian to seal an Olympic birth in two decades.

Fouaad Mirza scripted history with maiden Olympic berth

Fouaad Mirza
Fouaad Mirza

Fouaad Mirza confirmed his spot at the Tokyo Olympics with a great performance in Baborowko, Poland. While Mirza had booked the spot in the team event in 2019, he had to brave lockdown and equine herpes to qualify for the individual event. Mirza will become the third Indian Olympic equestrian, after Indrajit Lamba (1996) and Imtiaz Anees (2000).

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Mirza achieved the necessary Minimum Eligibility Requirement (MER) on both his horses as he finished second with Seigneur Medicott and third with Dajara. An injury to Seigneur Medicott as well as the ravaging pandemic which led to the cancellation of events delayed the Bengaluru lad’s qualification.

Also Read: Countdown to Tokyo 2020: Know your Olympian – Bajrang Punia