UpdateBot at 17:31, 10 June 2022

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{{short description|Indian equestrian}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Fouaad Mirza
| image = Fouaad Mirza Equestrian.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Fouaad Mirza with his horse Seigneur Medicott in 2020 Tokyo Olympics
| headercolor =
| fullname =
| nationality = Indian
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|3|6|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Bangalore]], [[Karnataka]], India<ref>{{cite web |title=MIRZA Fouaad |url=https://en.asiangames2018.id/athletes/athlete/MIRZA-Fouaad-3004992/ |publisher=Asian Games 2018 Jakarta Palembang |access-date=26 August 2018}}</ref>
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 9
| country = {{IND}}
| sport = [[Equestrianism|Equestrian]]
| coach = [[Sandra Auffarth]]
| olympics = 2020 - Rank 23
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | [[Equestrianism|Equestrian]]}}
{{MedalCountry |{{IND}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Asian Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver |[[Equestrian at the 2018 Asian Games|2018 Jakarta]] | [[Equestrian at the 2018 Asian Games – Individual eventing|Individual eventing]]}}
{{MedalSilver |[[Equestrian at the 2018 Asian Games|2018 Jakarta]] | [[Equestrian at the 2018 Asian Games – Team eventing|Team eventing]]}}
}}

'''Fouaad Mirza''' (born 6 March 1992) is an Indian [[Equestrianism|equestrian]] who won silver medals in both individual [[eventing]] and team eventing at the [[2018 Asian Games]]. He became the first Indian since 1982 to win a medal at an individual equestrian event at the [[List of Asian Games medalists in equestrian|Asian Games]].<ref>{{cite news |title=India's Fouaad Mirza wins equestrian silver at Asian Games |url=http://www.espn.in/espn/story/_/id/24479381/eventing-asian-games-fouaad-mirza-wins-india-first-individual-equestrian-silver-36-years |access-date=26 August 2018 |work=ESPN.in |date=26 August 2018}}</ref><ref name=ss>{{Cite web|date=July 10, 2021|first=Suhani |last=Singh |title=Hitting his stride {{!}} Fouaad Mirza|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20210719-hitting-his-stride-fouaad-mirza-1825901-2021-07-10|access-date=2021-07-16|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref> Mirza qualified for the [[2020 Summer Olympics]], becoming the first Indian equestrian since [[Imtiaz Anees]] (2000) to participate at the Games.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 8, 2021|title=Fouaad Mirza becomes 1st Indian equestrian to qualify for Tokyo Olympics|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/other-sports/story/fouaad-mirza-becomes-1st-indian-equestrian-to-qualify-for-tokyo-olympics-1634847-2020-01-08|access-date=2021-07-16|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Fouaad Mirza was born in [[Bangalore]], [[India]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=D'Cunha|first=Zenia|title=Equestrian: Riding over obstacles, Tokyo-bound Fouaad Mirza banks on equation with his partners|url=https://scroll.in/field/996511/equestrian-riding-over-obstacles-tokyo-bound-fouaad-mirza-banks-on-equation-with-his-partners|access-date=2021-06-25|website=Scroll.in|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=K. Kumaraswamy|date=Jun 2, 2021|title=Nothing will stop me from achieving the Olympic dream: Fouaad Mirza|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/tokyo-olympics/nothing-will-stop-me-from-achieving-the-olympic-dream-fouaad-mirza/articleshow/83181585.cms|access-date=2021-06-25|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> His father, Dr Hasneyn Mirza, is one of India's top equine veterinarians<ref name=ss/> and is a sixth generation horseman himself.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-05|title=Fouaad Mirza, India’s first Equestrian in Two Decades at the Olympics|url=https://leverageedu.com/blog/fouaad-mirza/|access-date=2021-08-29|website=Leverage Edu|language=en-US}}</ref> His family owns a stud farm in Bangalore. He has an elder brother, who is also a veterinarian. Fouaad's interest in horses grew since he was a toddler. He started riding since he was 5 years old.

== Career ==
At the age of 22, Mirza took part in the [[2014 Asian Games]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-09-26|title=Asian Games 2014: Indian equestrians disappoint in eventing|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/asian-games-2014-indian-equestrians-disappoint-in-eventing-716594.html|access-date=2021-08-29|website=News18|language=en}}</ref> held in [[Incheon]], [[South Korea]]. He finished in 5th position in team eventing along with fellow riders Sangram Singh, Mrityunjay Singh Rathore and Ajai Poovaiah. He finished in 10th position in the individual eventing category.

In 2017, Mirza 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]].

Fouaad Mirza's move to Germany was a turning point in his career. He won two silver medals at the Equestrian Jumping Final at the [[2018 Asian Games|Asian Games 2018]] in [[Jakarta]], one in individual eventing, and one in team eventing along with fellow Indian riders Rakesh Kumar, Ashish Malik and [[Jitender Singh]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=August 26, 2018|title=Asian Games 2018: Fouaad Mirza, Team India win silver medals in Equestrian|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/asian-games-2018/story/fouaad-mirza-equestrian-asian-games-2018-1323029-2018-08-26|access-date=2021-07-16|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref> With this feat, Mirza became the first Indian to win an Asian Games medal in Equesterian event after a gap of 36 years.

In 2019, Mirza received the [[Arjuna Award]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Fouaad Mirza overwhelmed by Arjuna honour |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/other-sports/arjuna-awards-sports-honours-fouaad-mirza-overwhelmed-asian-games-equestrian-horse/article29122010.ece |access-date=10 September 2019 |work=Sportstar |date=18 August 2019}}</ref> from the [[president of India]], [[Ram Nath Kovind]].

In October 2019, he won gold at CCI3*-S event held in [[Strzegom]], [[Poland]] with his horse Dajara.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/other-sports/equestrian-fouaad-mirza-wins-gold-at-olympic-qualifying-event/article29681801.ece|title=Equestrian: Fouaad Mirza wins gold at Olympic qualifying event|website=Sportstar|language=en|access-date=2019-11-04}}</ref>

On 7 January 2020, Mirza qualified for the [[2020 Summer Olympics|2020 Tokyo Olympics]] after finishing first in South East Asia, Oceania group.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sportstalk24.com/fouaad-mirza-officially-qualify-for-tokyo-olympic/|title=Equestrian: Fouaad Mirza officially Qualify for Tokyo olympic|website=Sportstalk24|date=7 January 2020|language=en|access-date=2020-01-07}}</ref> He became the first Indian equestrian in the last 20 years to qualify for the Olympics.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Achal|first=Ashwin|date=2021-05-31|title=Fouaad Mirza seals Tokyo berth|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/fouaad-mirza-seals-tokyo-berth/article34684087.ece|access-date=2021-06-25|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
and the first Indian equestrian to reach the finals of the Olympic individual eventing category. He finished in 23rd position aboard the 2006 [[Westphalian horse|Westphalian]] [[gelding]], Seigneur Medicott.

== Personal life ==
Fouaad Mirza studied [[psychology]] in the University of Northampton, [[Great Britain]]. He currently resides in [[Germany]] and trains under his coach, [[Sandra Auffarth]], who is the winner of the individual bronze medal and team gold medal in 2012 Summer Olympics.

He is sponsored by the [[Embassy Group]], which is a privately held real estate developer based in [[Bangalore]], [[Karnataka]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mirza, Fouaad}}
[[Category:1992 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian male equestrians]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Bangalore]]
[[Category:Equestrians at the 2014 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Equestrians at the 2018 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2018 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Asian Games silver medalists for India]]
[[Category:Asian Games medalists in equestrian]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Arjuna Award]]
[[Category:Equestrians at the 2020 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic equestrians of India]]

{{India-equestrian-bio-stub}}

Fouaad Mirza - Revision history

UpdateBot at 17:31, 10 June 2022