“Representing the Nation Pakistani Horse Rider’s Road to Paris Olympics”
Karachi: Pakistani horse rider Usman Khan has made history by securing his spot in the Paris Olympics after meeting the minimum eligibility requirement at the FEI 4-star event held in Ireland.
Usman, born in Lahore, and his horse Mairaj accomplished this remarkable feat by competing in various events across Europe. Prior to qualifying in Ireland, Usman participated in events in Switzerland, France, Poland, Germany, and Belgium.
This marks Usman’s second consecutive qualification for the Olympics. He had previously qualified for the Tokyo Olympics but suffered a severe injury in an accident in Australia that also led to the unfortunate death of his horse.
In the Paris Olympics, Usman will take part in eventing, which combines cross-country, showjumping, and dressage, putting both the horse and rider’s horsemanship skills to the test.
Sharing his excitement, Usman conveyed the news in an electronic message, expressing his gratitude to Almighty Allah and announcing Pakistan’s qualification for the Paris Olympics.
He also emphasized the significance of maintaining this qualification status for the next 12 months, which would require a reserve horse and participation in upcoming events. Usman urged the authorities to release the funding they had previously agreed to provide him, which would ensure smooth preparations for the Paris Olympics.
Notably, Usman had also qualified for the Asian Games, but the Equestrian Federation of Pakistan did not confirm his participation before the deadline.
As a Pakistani-Australian, Usman moved to France to better prepare for the Paris Olympics and is now looking forward to representing Pakistan on the international stage.
