MIRZA Fouaad

General
FAVOURED RIDE
He says the postponement of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo will allow time for Seigneur Medicott, the horse on which he won two silver medals at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, to recover from a ligament injury. "He was ruled out of qualification events last year [2019]. The added time we have can get him through rehabilitation, fingers crossed. I'd like to take him to Tokyo. If the Games were this year [2020], it would have been doubtful." (economictimes.indiatimes.com, 25 May 2020)

MOVE TO GERMANY
In 2017 he 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. "Two other riders of the Indian team who were sent to Germany together with me had to go back to India. They were in the military and had to return to service. I was suddenly alone in Warendorf, and then Bettina Hoy became the coach of the Dutch team and had no spare time for me. So I called Sandra and asked if she had a room for me. Sandra is an amazing horsewoman and a very good trainer. I've learned a lot from her over these last couple of years [speaking in 2021]. " (FEI YouTube channel 20 Jan 2021; weser-kurier.de, 12 Jul 2020; stall-auffarth.de, 23 Sep 2019; timesofindia.indiatimes.com, 27 Aug 2018)

RISING PROFILE
After winning silver medals in eventing and team eventing at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, he felt the profile of the sport was gradually beginning to rise in India. "The 2018 medals really boosted people's confidence to pursue the sport back at home. We're still at the grassroots and I think people still need to know more about the sport before they can really support me like they support their cricket team." (fei.org, 20 Jan 2021)

EQUESTRIAN HERITAGE
His family owns a stud farm in Bengaluru, India. His father, Hasneyn Mirza, is a well-known equine vet in India, who also runs the Embassy International Riding School [EIRS] in Bengaluru. (sportstar.thehindu.com, 25 Apr 2020; indianexpress.com, 27 Aug 2018; timesofindia.indiatimes.com, 27 Aug 2018)