Anush Agarwalla’s annual visit to his parents in India turned out to be more rewarding this year. The equestrian champion who made India proud by winning gold and bronze at the Asian Games 2022 was conferred with the Arjuna Award, the second-highest sporting honour in India, on January 9 at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi.
“It’s a huge honour to be conferred with the Arjuna Award, the second-highest award a sportsperson can get in India. My family and I are over the moon. The icing on the cake was getting it from the President and in the presence of so many other achievers from different parts of the country who have made India proud. I usually come to India for 10 days during the festive period in December and this visit turned out to be very special,” said the 24-year-old awardee who played remarkably at the World Equestrian Games in 2022. Agarwalla who left India for serious training under German equestrian and Olympian Hubertus Schmidt in Germany, is settled there and is currently pursuing his bachelor’s in Business and waiting for positive news from the International Federation for Equestrian Sports for his selection at the Olympics. A t2 interview.
You have been into equestrian sport since a young age. Tell us about your tryst with the sport and what keeps you going.
I did not have an ordinary journey into the equestrian world, the way you find in Western countries. My family is from a non-equestrian background. My dad used to ride horses but only as a hobby. In fact, I was also introduced to it as a way to spend time with my family at Tollygunge Club. But when I started taking it seriously and my parents noticed it, then I got enrolled in an institute in Delhi at the age of 11. I used to do my school from Monday to Friday and at the weekend would go to Delhi for training and I did this for six years. It was only after completing my board exams that I shifted to Delhi. However, soon I realised that there’s no future for me in India because of the overall lack of infrastructure. So we decided to move abroad. And that’s how my journey started. My coach Hubertus Schmidt and my family have played important roles in getting me where I am today. It has not always been an upward ride.
Anush Agarwalla receives the Arjuna Award from President Droupadi Murmu
You have had many firsts. From being the first Indian to qualify for FEI World Championship in dressage, to winning the first medal in the Asian Games for India in the same category. What is your approach towards the sport and who have been your inspirations?
My approach, not just for sports but in life, is to set high goals and then devote all my time and energy in achieving those goals. I will do 100 per cent and that’s how I have always been in school and in sports. That’s how my parents brought me up and that’s also how my father is. I feel it is my responsibility not just towards my family but also towards my coach. This is the least I can do. If one believes in oneself and gives 100 per cent then the sky is the limit. My coach is a legend of the sport and to see his dedication and level of training, to see how humble and well-respected he is even though he has achieved so much in his life inspires me a lot.
Talking about goals, I am sure the Olympics tops your list. How are you preparing for it?
Yes, my biggest goal is to be the first Indian to qualify for the Olympics in dressage. To be honest, my qualifying rounds for the Olympics have finished, it went well, and I am waiting for an official confirmation of the qualification from FEI. Apart from this, Asian Games has been my biggest goal and I intend to bring more medals for the country.
You started over a decade back when the awareness and the infrastructure for the game were lacking. Have things changed in India now?
There has been a big change compared to when I was training in India and shifted to Germany later. There has been a lot of investment and growth in infrastructure over the years. Also, there’s more interest among young people in the game. It’s important to show youngsters that it’s not too far and completely possible to achieve big in the game. However, we are not even close to how things are in Europe. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a lot of initiatives to develop sports in India and I am confident that with his support the sport will develop.
Let’s talk about the non-equestrian side of you. What is it that you like to do when not playing the game?
Unfortunately, I don’t get much time as I am pursuing my bachelor’s degree in Germany in Business. Between my training and university, I love to spend time with my family and friends. I am a huge foodie and also love travelling. I am a big E Sports fan and that is my way to relax.
Fitness plays an important role in the game. Take us through your fitness regimen.
Fitness is a huge part of this sport. I train for six-eight hours a day and that helps a lot in my fitness. It’s difficult to maintain a diet as I am a foodie but I try to cut down on fats and sweets as much as possible. I do a lot of stretching and yoga is also a part of my fitness regimen.