assembly with Usman Khan, the Pakistani rider with a tragic future, within the working for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games | EUROtoday
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Don the earth of equestrian sport, the story of Usman Khan, a Pakistani rider, challenges us. His first horse within the working to qualify for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics died tragically in September 2020. “When I went to feed the horse at my stables in Melbourne, the place I reside, I discovered him mendacity on the bottom. Blood was flowing from his nostrils. I approached, he appeared sleepy. He was useless. The post-mortem revealed that he died of a coronary heart assault. »
A coronary heart assault can happen at any time, throughout racing, when horses are underneath excessive stress on the guts, or when they’re resting. “My vet told me that if I had flown to Tokyo, he could have died on the plane too, and that I was lucky not to be on top of him galloping. It would have been tragic for both of us. » The horse's name was Azad Kashmirnamed after a mountainous and forested region of Pakistan, a hot spot surrounded by areas of tension where the great game between the British and the Russians was played out a good century and a half ago. A name which earned him some Indian pressure to change it.
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The Olympic dream shattered by Usman Khan
Thanks to his savings accumulated as an IT project manager in Australia, within the company he founded, and with the help of his father, a show jumper and wealthy army colonel, Usman found extremis another horse, to which he gives the name Kasheer. On May 16, 2021, during the Naracoorte Horse Trials, a prestigious equestrian eventing event qualifying for the Olympic Games, the dressage test places Usman and Kasheer in third place. The duo also shines during show jumping, making only one mistake.
Thus, the Pakistani couple finds themselves in second position before tackling the cross-country, marking the best performance ever achieved by Pakistan after two phases during a qualifying tournament, in the 73-year history of the country. However, when cross-country, the couple falls a few meters from the finish line after crossing the last obstacle. Usman loses consciousness. “When I came to, I asked where my horse was. He died instantly. I was devastated. » Usman still has the after-effects of this tragic accident. “I spent a lot of time in rehabilitation, so my memory isn't always good, I say things I don't always remember. » His Olympic dream suddenly died out.
One last hope remains…
We nI can't say that this rider has the baraka with his horses. However, the quadra remains determined to win a selection for the Paris Olympics. His new equine companion, which he acquired from Pierre Defrance, his trainer and coach of two gold medalists, based in Orléans, is called Eden Du Veret. Usman gave him a nickname: “Mirage”. He says he has no ambition to win a medal, however solely a fervent need to symbolize his nation.
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Although he’s certified to the Paris Olympicsit has not but been formally chosen. Currently, it occupies third place in Group F (Africa and Middle East) behind Morocco and South Africa. “Given that the number of points is now fixed, something should happen with the two Moroccan and South African duos,” explains Pierre Defrance, his coach. A potential defection from Morocco or South Africa, for instance, might change the scenario. However, his probabilities of being chosen are virtually zero. He can solely depend on his attraction. “I’ve two issues in my pocket: the identify of my God written in Arabic characters and my final needs. »
Let's hope that, till then, he gained't have any additional unhealthy luck. Otherwise, one might virtually consider within the existence of the evil eye.
https://www.lepoint.fr/societe/sports-equestres-rencontre-avec-usman-khan-le-cavalier-pakistanais-au-destin-tragique-en-lice-pour-les-jeux-olympiques-de-paris-2024–12-05-2024-2559953_23.php