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Anush Agarwalla rues Asian Games exclusion, vows return
Anush Agarwalla is an Indian horse rider who competes in dressage.
He helped India win a team gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games and won an individual bronze.
He was first listed as a reserve for the 2026 Asian Games.
Later, he was left out of the team.
Agarwalla said this made him feel hurt because he believed he was not given a fair chance.
He challenged the selection process in court.
The Delhi High Court said the process followed the required rules.
Agarwalla will take a short break from training but plans to return and aim for the Olympics.
He also said his horse Floriana and he still have bigger moments ahead.
Anush Agarwalla said he was “deeply hurt” after missing the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
The dressage rider was initially named as a reserve after being part of India’s gold-winning Hangzhou team.
Agarwalla challenged the selection process and questioned how the criteria were interpreted.
The Delhi High Court declined to interfere, ruling that the selection followed the prescribed criteria.
He plans to take a training break but said the Olympics remain his next goal.
- Who
- Indian dressage rider Anush Agarwalla, who competes with his horse Floriana.
- What
- Agarwalla was excluded from India’s team for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and criticized the selection process.
- Where
- The selection dispute involved India and was considered by the Delhi High Court.
- When
- The statement was reported on September 14; the Games are scheduled for 2026.
- Why
- Agarwalla said he believed the process was unfair, while the Delhi High Court held that it followed the prescribed criteria.
Agarwalla’s View
Selection Process View
Fairness of selection
Agarwalla’s View
Agarwalla called the process unfair and said he was denied the opportunity to compete despite years of preparation.
Selection Process View
The Delhi High Court held that the selection process was conducted in accordance with the prescribed criteria.
Challenge to the decision
Agarwalla’s View
Agarwalla said he challenged the process, contacted sporting authorities and fought until the final moment.
Selection Process View
The court declined to interfere with the selection, leaving the selection decision in place.
Key facts
- Athlete
- Anush Agarwalla
- Sport
- Dressage
- Event
- 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games
- Previous Asian Games result
- Team gold and individual bronze at the Hangzhou Asian Games
- Selection status
- Initially named as a reserve, then excluded
- Court decision
- The Delhi High Court declined to interfere with the selection process
- Next goal
- The Olympics
Quotes
Anush Agarwalla
Indian dressage rider and member of India’s Hangzhou Asian Games gold-winning team
“Words cannot explain the pain and emptiness I feel right now. I have always represented India with immense pride, and always will. But this time, I am deeply hurt – not because I lost, but because I was never given the chance to compete。”
theprint.in
Sources
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