The year 2023 was memorable in many ways for equestrian Anush Agarwalla.
At the Asian Games in Hangzhou last September, Calcutta boy Anush was one of the quartet — the other three being Sudipti Hajela, Divyakriti Singh and Vipul Hriday Chheda — which bagged the country’s first-ever Asian Games dressage gold. It was also only the second medal at the Games in dressage for India.
And that was not all. Anush went on to bag a bronze in the individual dressage event too. Once again, a first for India in individual dressage at the Asian Games.
The icing on the cake was that Anush’s name was recommended for the prestigious Arjuna Award, which he received from President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday.
“It was an experience which was surreal,” Anush told The Telegraph on Thursday. “It is an award we have all earned, an award which cannot be bought. That brought a tremendous sense of satisfaction.”
At the ceremony, Anush was seated beside cricketer Mohammed Shami and
their Calcutta connection sparked an instant connect between the two.
“We talked about the city. He asked me a lot of questions about my sport. We laughed and talked,” said the 24-year-old who is now on a break at home. He returns to his base in Paderborn, Germany, next Thursday.
Germany is where Anush has been training since he was 17.
He had initially started training at Tollygunge Club but the La Martiniere alumnus shifted to Shri Ram School, Aravali, after his Class X from where he got an opportunity to train in Germany under Hubertus Schmidt, an Olympic gold medallist.
“My initial training in Germany was a humbling experience. I realised that I
was a 1000 times worse than the others over there,” said Anush.
“That realisation and the initial failures were my first steps towards success. That, coupled with my intense struggle in a foreign land whose language too I did not know, slowly took me forward.
“Gradually, as I started winning competitions, my confidence grew and the call of the big stage motivated me to work even harder.”
Equestrianism is as much about the horse as the rider. “It is the bond between the two that makes or breaks the rider,” said Anush.
“My main horse is Sir Caramello. The two of us have achieved much as a team and Caramello has taught me a lot.
“In order to develop a bond with my horses, I clean and feed them and spend much time with them too. The horse must trust you and feel safe when you are at a competition. That is the key to success.”
Etro is the horse on which Anush won his Asian Games medals.
Cut to 2024, the year of the Olympics.
Anush is confident that he will make the Paris cut.
“The qualifiers have got over by December 31 and the official list will be out in February, but given my performance, I am optimistic that I will be headed to
Paris this year.”
From next week, it is back to training again for the young equestrian. His mantra: to give hundred per cent, be dedicated and consistent.