Lahore, Pakistan, September 21, 2020: Pakistan’s Olympic eventing dreams have been dashed after the death of the 13-year-old thoroughbred Azad Kashmir.
Lahore-born Usman Khan became the first equestrian competitor from Pakistan to win a ticket to the Olympics when riding Azad Kashmir in February this year. The pair qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The New Zealand-bred former racehorse died last Thursday, September 17, of a heart attack in Melbourne, Australia, where Khan has been based for the past 15 years. Khan acquired Azad Kashmir in April 2019.
Khan told Pakistan newspaper The News that he buried Azad Kashmir with an Olympic flag. “I am in a state of shock. He was laid to rest as an Olympian and I am proud of my friend,” he said.
As he does not have a back-up horse, Khan now has to find another horse to qualify.
Khan said: “Pakistan’s voyage to the Olympics with Azad Kashmir was an epic journey. The International Equestrian Federation does allow a provision to secure another horse and start again. Someone has to fund. Only if someone sees the bigger picture.
“Azad and I fulfilled our promise; we qualified, we delivered. The world wasn’t ready for us in July 2020.”
The Pakistan Equestrian Federation posted on Facebook: “Azad Kashmir and Usman Khan’s strong bond led to Olympic qualification. The duo achieved it against all odds. Our immense grief cannot be put in words. The nation is devastated. It’s a sad day.”