Who is Anush Agarwalla? 26-year-old Indian rider secures first dressage event win in Germany; all you need to know
Indian rider
Anush Agarwalla
secured his first victory in the dressage event at the Jubilaumsturnier Hofgeismar Open with his mare Floriana. Agarwalla, a Paris Olympics representative, scored 69.891 percent points to lead the six-member competition, where all other participants were from Germany.
The second and third positions were claimed by Pia Piotrowski and Katharina Hemmer respectively. This victory marked the first success for Agarwalla and Floriana at the S level, in what was only their second competitive appearance together.
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"I'm incredibly proud of Floriana, this was only her second S competition and she handled it with maturity beyond her years," Agarwalla said.
"Winning here is a special moment for both of us. I want to sincerely thank Anna Scholermann for her constant guidance, training, and belief in us. This is just the beginning for Floriana, and I'm excited about what the future holds."
Who is Anush Agarwalla?
Anush Agarwalla, born on 23 November 1999 in Kolkata, has emerged as one of India's most prominent equestrian athletes, specialising in dressage — a discipline often described as 'ballet on horseback.'
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His journey began at the age of three, but it was his move to Germany at 17 to train under Olympic gold medallist Hubertus Schmidt that truly transformed his career.
Agarwalla made history by becoming the first Indian dressage rider to compete at the FEI World Equestrian Games (2022). The same year, he played a pivotal role in India's breakthrough performance at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, winning team gold and individual bronze — India's first-ever medal in individual dressage.
Riding his trusted partner, Etro, he scored an impressive 73.030, setting a new benchmark for Indian equestrian sports.
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In 2024, Agarwalla achieved another milestone by qualifying for the Paris Olympics, where he became India's first-ever dressage competitor at the Games, finishing 52nd in the Grand Prix.
Recognising his achievements, the Government of India awarded him the prestigious
Arjuna Award
in January 2024.
Continuing his success, Agarwalla and his mare Floriana secured victory at the Jubiläumsturnier Hofgeismar Open in Germany.
With his sights set on future world championships and the next Olympic cycle, Anush Agarwalla is redefining equestrian sports in India.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
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