Anush Agarwalla Calls Asian Games Exclusion a ‘Betrayal’, Questions Selection Process
Indian dressage rider Anush Agarwalla has strongly criticised the selection process that ruled him out of India’s squad for the 2026 Asian Games, saying his exclusion has left him feeling more “betrayed” than defeated.
Agarwalla, who was part of India’s gold-winning dressage team at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games and also won an individual bronze medal, expressed his disappointment on Instagram after his hopes of competing at the Aichi-Nagoya Games came to an end.
“The dream of Asian Games 2026 is officially over,” Agarwalla wrote, saying he was “deeply hurt” because he believed he had not been given a fair opportunity to compete.
Selection Dispute
The 25-year-old rider was initially named as a reserve for India’s Asian Games dressage team. His exclusion later triggered a dispute over the selection process, with Agarwalla questioning the way the prescribed selection criteria had been applied.
The matter reached the Delhi High Court, which declined to intervene and held that the selection had been made in accordance with the applicable criteria.
Agarwalla said he had no problem accepting defeat in competition, but found it difficult to accept what he believes was an unfair selection process.
“I can accept defeat on the field. That is sport. You fight, you win, you lose, and you come back stronger. But this feels less like defeat and more like betrayal,” he said.
‘Fought Until the End’
Agarwalla said he had raised the issue with the Equestrian Federation of India, the Indian Olympic Association and the Sports Ministry. However, he claimed that his efforts did not result in a meaningful review of the decision.
“Accepting an outcome doesn’t mean I have to believe the process was right,” he said, adding that he remained proud of fighting for his case until the end.
The dressage rider also called for greater transparency in athlete selection, arguing that competitors should not have to face similar situations after years of preparation.
“If India wants to become a true sporting nation, athletes deserve a system that is fair, transparent and respects the years of work behind every opportunity,” Agarwalla wrote.
Olympics Now the Next Target
Despite the setback, Agarwalla said the episode would not derail his career. He revealed that he plans to take his first break from training since moving to Germany a decade ago before beginning preparations for his next major target — the Olympics.
“I will return, and the Olympics will be the next goal. The Indian flag will always be worth fighting for,” he said.
‘I Am Not Done’
Agarwalla thanked his coach, family and supporters for standing by him throughout the selection dispute. He also expressed gratitude to his horse Floriana for their journey together.
“This hurts. But I am not done. On to the next goal,” the rider said.
Comments are closed.