Asian Games gold medallist Anush Agarwalla has publicly criticised the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) over its selection process after the dressage rider was excluded from India's squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, which begins later this week. Agarwalla, who helped India clinch team gold at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games and individually won bronze there, says the snub denied him even the chance to compete for his country.

Agarwalla's Emotional Post

On Monday, after his prospects of competing in Aichi-Nagoya were formally extinguished, Agarwalla took to Instagram to vent his anguish. 'The dream of Asian Games 2026 is officially over,' the 25-year-old wrote, adding that he was 'deeply hurt — not because I lost, but because I was never given the chance to compete.'

In a separate note, he wrote: 'I didn't get to fight for the medal. But I fought for what I believed in. The Asian Games dream ends here. The bigger dream doesn't. Floriana, we're not done yet.' The mention of Floriana — his horse — signals that Agarwalla intends to continue competing at the highest level despite this setback.

The Selection Dispute

Agarwalla had initially been named as a reserve for India's dressage team heading into the 2026 Games. He subsequently challenged both the process and the interpretation of the selection criteria, escalating the matter to the EFI, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), and the Sports Ministry — all without success, according to his own account.

The Delhi High Court also declined to intervene, ruling that the selection had been conducted in accordance with the prescribed criteria. Despite accepting that legal outcome, Agarwalla made clear he does not regard the process as fair. 'Accepting an outcome doesn't mean I have to believe the process was right,' he said.

A Call for Systemic Reform

Beyond his personal grievance, Agarwalla used the platform to demand broader reform in how Indian sports bodies select athletes. '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,' he wrote.

This is not the first time an Indian athlete has publicly contested a national federation's selection decisions. Critics argue that opaque criteria and limited independent oversight have repeatedly left decorated performers without recourse — a pattern that has drawn scrutiny from sports governance advocates ahead of several major international tournaments.

What This Means for India's Dressage Defence

India will now attempt to defend its 2022 Hangzhou team gold in dressage without one of its most accomplished riders. Agarwalla's absence is a notable gap, given that his individual score contributed significantly to the team total two years ago. Whether the current squad can match that performance without him will be closely watched in Aichi-Nagoya.

Agarwalla closed his post by thanking his coach, family, and everyone who stood by him through the dispute — signalling that while this chapter may be closed, his pursuit of international honours continues.