Pakistan’s leading equestrian Usman Khan will make his Asian Games debut in Japan later this month, marking a major achievement after multiple years of financial and sporting obstacles. However, the milestone will be dampened by the fact that equestrian events are not among the sports whose competitors have been selected to walk in the opening ceremony on September 19.
Usman has qualified for the Asian Games on four previous occasions but was unable to compete at the prior three editions due to lack of funds. His arrival in Tokyo on September 16 represents both a personal breakthrough and a significant moment for Pakistan’s equestrian sport. The competition will take place from September 20 to 23 at Tokyo’s JRA Equestrian Park.
Usman will compete with his horse Eden du Veret, known as Miraj, which will become the first horse Pakistan has sent to the Asian Games. The pair currently hold the top ranking in the FEI Middle East and Africa region. Usman’s path to this competition has included multiple tragedies: one horse died after he qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, another was killed in a qualifying accident in Australia that left him critically injured, and financial difficulties later caused him to miss the Paris Olympics. He has decided to use the Asian Games as preparation for qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.