Equestrian Fouaad Mirza says Olympics postponement blessing in disguise for him

Indian equestrian ace Fouaad Mirza on Sunday said that the postponement of Tokyo Olympics to next year due to the COVID-19 pandemic was a "blessing in disguise" for him as he will get more time for preparation.

The 28-year-old Mirza, who won two silver medals in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, is currently training in Germany.

"The postponement of Olympics is like blessing in disguise for me as it gives much needed rest to the horses and practice for me," Mirza told PTI.

"My favourite horse Seigneur Medicott has recovered from injury and I will start training with him. Touching Wood and Fernhill Facetime got time to rest and they will be fresh whenever the season begins," he added.

Mirza won a silver each in individual eventing and team eventing in the 2018 Asian Games on Seigneur Medicott while Touching Wood and Fernhill Facetime took him close to fulfil his Olympics dream.

He said India has secured a berth for the Olympics but he wants to confirm his personal quota for the Tokyo Games.

"For a confirmed Olympics berth I have to compete in one more event. That is called 'Four Star Long'. I can complete this task in international 'Four Star Long' competition. My choice of competition was to be held in Montilibretti, Italy from April 9-12 but that got cancelled due to Covid-19."
"My focus is on the Olympics and I have no complaints about not getting help from government. However, I will try to contact government officials when I am back in india."