Pakistan’s top equestrian Usman Khan rode all the way to 2024 Paris Olympics, by securing the qualification in the FEI four-star even in Mallow town of Ireland on Sunday.
Usman Khan told Pakistani media: “By the grace of God Almighty Pakistan has secured the Paris Olympic Qualification in Mallow, Ireland.”
It is the result of two years hard labour after fate denied him an opportunity to feature in the Tokyo Olympics despite qualification, Usman Khan did not lose heart as he took time in recovery from an accident he had met with just before the finish-line at the Tokyo Olympics Qualifiers in May 2021 in Australia.
He began his quest for another milestone almost two years ago. And it was the soil of Ireland which proved lucky for the star equestrian where he earned Paris Olympics qualification. “I worked extremely hard for achieving this milestone,” Usman added.
He further said “Unlike the Tokyo Olympics this time my Olympics berth quest was characterized by solid approach, the experience I had of playing at such a high level, quality coaching team, and, no doubt, my horse which is the integral part of the whole journey.”
“Our trainers Pierre DeFrance and Aurelie Riedweg have worked tirelessly for the last one and a half years,” Usman said and added “With 12 months to go we need more prayers of the Pakistani nation.”
Usman Khan will now have to compete at the four-star level for the coming one year and will need to maintain his standing.
Pakistan is the first nation in Group F which qualified for the Olympics. Usman Khan has been in Europe for the last couple of years.
As per Olympics qualification rules, a four-star long MER is needed for the Olympics together with four-star short format MER and three-star long format MER.
In 2019, Usman Khan became the first equestrian of Pakistan to qualify for the Olympics. But unfortunately Usman’s horse Azad Kashmir died in September 2020. It meant Usman had to revise his qualification with his new horse Kasheer. But the duo met with an accident just before the finish-line in the Olympics Qualifiers in Australia which resulted in the death of Kasheer.
Usman Khan had also sustained serious injuries and was shifted to hospital, and he took months to recover.