Fouaad Mirza can’t be included in Asian Games probables list: EFI
The Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) on Saturday clarified that ace equestrian Fouaad Mirza cannot be included in the probables list for the Asian Games as he has not achieved the minimum eligibility required for the same. EFI general secretary Jaiveer Singh said Mirza wanted direct entry in the list without fulfilling the criteria but he was bound by the rules and wanted to be fair. The 31-year-old Mirza, while speaking to PTI, confirmed that he had approached the EFI and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to be included in the list but does not consider it a backdoor entry as he is a well-known player in the game. .
Jaiveer said selection cannot be done on the basis of past performance and putting Mirza in the long list without trials would be unfair to other riders who have worked hard to qualify. The World Equestrian Federation and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had fixed May 20 as the last date for sending the long list i.e. the list of probables. After the final selection trial, the final list of participants is to be submitted by July 15. Jaiveer said, “Mirza needed to get the minimum eligibility. He took part in only one competition and could not meet the minimum eligibility. Before the postponement of the Asian Games, he had secured the minimum eligibility but was very low in the merit list.
“He had the option of participating in several other competitions to meet the minimum eligibility but he chose not to participate in any other competition,” he said. “Fouad called me on Friday and said That in view of their achievements and past performance they should be included in the list but who should I remove from the list to make room for them.” The EFI has selected six riders and two horses each for the eventing event. Four horsemen are selected for show jumping and three horses for suffix. Four riders and six horses have been selected for the dressage event. The basis of selection is the performance of the riders in the competitions of the World Equestrian Federation at home and abroad.
On the reasons for not participating in any other competition, Mirza said, “EFI is right in saying that I have not passed the trial. At that time I was participating in the World Championship, which is a bigger competition than the Asian Games and even the Olympics. There was no such competition in which I could participate.
