Fouaad happy with Oly delay as it lets his horses remain fresh

New Delhi, April 12

Indian equestrian ace Fouaad Mirza today said that the postponement of Tokyo Olympics to next year due to the Covid-19 pandemic was a “blessing in disguise” for him as he will get more time for preparation.

The 28-year-old Mirza, winner of two silver medals in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, is currently training in Germany. “The postponement of Olympics is like blessing in disguise for me as it gives much needed rest to the horses and practice for me,” Mirza said.

“My favourite horse Seigneur Medicott has recovered from injury and I will start training with him. Touching Wood and Fernhill Facetime got time to rest and they will be fresh whenever the season begins,” he added.

Mirza won a silver each in individual and team events in the 2018 Asian Games on Seigneur Medicott, while Touching Wood and Fernhill Facetime took him close to fulfil his Olympics dream.

He saidIndia has secured a berth for the Olympics but wants to confirm his personal quota. “For a confirmed Olympics berth I have to compete in one more event. That is called ‘Four Star Long’. I can complete this task in international ‘Four Star Long’ competition. My choice of competition was to be held in Montelibretti, Italy from April 9-12 but got cancelled due to Covid-19.” If Mirza passes the last hurdle, he will become India’s third equestrian participant in the Olympics after late Indrajit Lamba (1996) and Imtiaz Anees (2000). Mirza is currently training under the German legend Sandra Auffarth who won a gold (team event) and bronze (individual) in 2012 London Olympics. — PTI