Fouaad Mirza

Fouaad Mirza (born 6 March 1992) is an Indian equestrian who won silver medals in both individual eventing and team eventing at the 2018 Asian Games. He became the first Indian since 1982 to win a medal at an individual equestrian event at the Asian Games.[2][3] Mirza qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics, becoming the first Indian equestrian since Imtiaz Anees (2000) to participate at the Games.[4]

Fouaad Mirza
Fouaad Mirza with his horse Seigneur Medicott in 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Personal information
NationalityIndian
Born (1992-03-06) 6 March 1992
Bangalore, Karnataka, India[1]
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
RelativesMirza Ismail (great-grandfather)
Agha Aly Asker (great-great-great-grandfather)
Sport
Country India
SportEquestrian
Coached bySandra Auffarth
Achievements and titles
Olympic finals2020 - Rank 23
Medal record
Equestrian
Representing  India
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place2018 Jakarta Individual eventing
Silver medal – second place2018 Jakarta Team eventing

Early life

Fouaad Mirza was born in Bangalore, India.[5][6] His father, Dr Hasneyn Mirza, is one of India's top equine veterinarians[3] and is a sixth generation horseman himself (being the great-grandson of Mirza Ismail and the great-great-great grandson of Agha Aly Asker).[7][8]

His family owns a stud farm in Bangalore. He has an elder brother, who is also a veterinarian. Fouaad's interest in horses grew since he was a toddler. He started riding since he was 5 years old.

Career

At the age of 22, Mirza took part in the 2014 Asian Games,[9] held in Incheon, South Korea. He finished in 5th position in team eventing along with fellow riders Sangram Singh, Mrityunjay Singh Rathore and Ajai Poovaiah. He finished in 10th position in the individual eventing category.

In 2017, Mirza moved to Germany to train with equestrian Bettina Hoy in Warendorf. After Hoy took a coaching position for the Dutch eventing team, he moved to Ganderkesee to train with Sandra Auffarth.

Fouaad Mirza's move to Germany was a turning point in his career. He won two silver medals at the Equestrian Jumping Final at the Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta, one in individual eventing, and one in team eventing along with fellow Indian riders Rakesh Kumar, Ashish Malik and Jitender Singh.[10] With this feat, Mirza became the first Indian to win an Asian Games medal in Equesterian event after a gap of 36 years.

In 2019, Mirza received the Arjuna Award[11] from the president of India, Ram Nath Kovind.

In October 2019, he won gold at CCI3*-S event held in Strzegom, Poland with his horse Dajara.[12]

On 7 January 2020, Mirza qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after finishing first in South East Asia, Oceania group.[13] He became the first Indian equestrian in the last 20 years to qualify for the Olympics.[14] and the first Indian equestrian to reach the finals of the Olympic individual eventing category. He finished in 23rd position aboard the 2006 Westphalian gelding, Seigneur Medicott.

Personal life

Fouaad Mirza studied psychology in the University of Northampton, Great Britain. He currently resides in Germany and trains under his coach, Sandra Auffarth, who is the winner of the individual bronze medal and team gold medal in 2012 Summer Olympics.

He is sponsored by the Embassy Group, which is a privately held real estate developer based in Bangalore, Karnataka.

References
  1. "MIRZA Fouaad". Asian Games 2018 Jakarta Palembang. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  2. "India's Fouaad Mirza wins equestrian silver at Asian Games". ESPN.in. 26 August 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  3. Singh, Suhani (10 July 2021). "Hitting his stride | Fouaad Mirza". India Today. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  4. "Fouaad Mirza becomes 1st Indian equestrian to qualify for Tokyo Olympics". India Today. 8 January 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  5. D'Cunha, Zenia. "Equestrian: Riding over obstacles, Tokyo-bound Fouaad Mirza banks on equation with his partners". Scroll.in. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  6. K. Kumaraswamy (2 June 2021). "Nothing will stop me from achieving the Olympic dream: Fouaad Mirza". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  7. "Fouaad Mirza, India's first Equestrian in Two Decades at the Olympics". Leverage Edu. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  8. A Rich Legacy – Syeda Mirza. You and I. 21 April 2020.
  9. "Asian Games 2014: Indian equestrians disappoint in eventing". News18. 26 September 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  10. "Asian Games 2018: Fouaad Mirza, Team India win silver medals in Equestrian". India Today. 26 August 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  11. "Fouaad Mirza overwhelmed by Arjuna honour". Sportstar. 18 August 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  12. "Equestrian: Fouaad Mirza wins gold at Olympic qualifying event". Sportstar. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  13. "Equestrian: Fouaad Mirza officially Qualify for Tokyo olympic". Sportstalk24. 7 January 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  14. Achal, Ashwin (31 May 2021). "Fouaad Mirza seals Tokyo berth". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
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