The Arjuna Awardee Fouad Mirza created history by securing the Tokyo 2020 Olympics quota recently.
“I had an idea that I was in the reckoning for the quota but had to wait for China and Thailand to qualify as teams. Both of them qualified last week in Italy. If these two countries had not qualified as teams they would have taken up the individual slots and I wouldn’t have got the Olympic berth,” said Mirza.
The 27-year-old Mirza triumphed in Group G for the South East Asia, Oceania in the individual eventing category after the end of the Europe stage earlier this month. The official confirmation will be announced by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) on February 20.
Imtiaz Anees (2000 Sydney) and Late Wing Commander IJ Lamba (1996 Atlanta) are the only Indians to have represented the country at the Olympics for the sport.
“I am elated but there’s still enough work to be done. It’s one tick out of the many boxes. Now we have to prepare the best we can and enter the competition in top form,” Mirza added.
