Pakistan’s top equestrian Usman Khan qualifies for Asian Games 2026

Pakistan’s top equestrian Usman Khan continues to shine on the international stage, securing qualification for the 2026 Asian Games after a stellar performance at an FEI three-star event in France late Sunday.

Riding alongside his fearless partner Sellis Francis’ Eden du Veret (Mirage), The France-based Usman delivered one of the most flawless showjumping rounds of the competition and recorded one of the fastest cross-country runs of the day. So sharp was their performance that only 0.4 time penalties stood between them and perfection. The podium finish came down to the narrowest of margins just a single point leaving spectators breathless.

In a field of 59 elite competitors, including Olympic medalists and seasoned Olympians, Pakistan rose above expectations, finishing a historic sixth and outperforming arch-rivals India in the Asian Games qualifier.

Usman narrowly missed the podium by just 0.5 points but officially secured his spot for the 2026 Asian Games set to be held in Tokyo. This marks his fourth qualification for the continental event, having previously earned spots in the 2014, 2018, and 2022 editions.

Usman remains Pakistan’s only internationally recognized eventer; a title earned through two decades of relentless effort and a 14-year association with the FEI. His commitment and perseverance continue to elevate Pakistan's presence in international equestrian sport.

“It’s been great to make it again to the Asian Games,” Usman told Nukta in a brief conversation from France.

In pursuit of his dream Usman left Australia to settle in France with the ambition of achieving something truly significant for Pakistan in eventing. Despite his repeated qualifications, he has never competed in the Asian Games due to a lack of support from the government. He has fought this battle alone, without institutional backing, an issue that now calls for serious attention from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) as he prepares for the 2026 Games.

On Sunday Usman came heartbreakingly close to a podium finish at the FEI three-star long format event which featured some of the sport's biggest names, including Olympians and medal winners. His performance, however, confirmed his readiness to compete at the highest level.

Symbol of resilience

Usman is a symbol of resilience and self-determination. He has qualified for the Olympics twice but misfortune robbed him of the opportunity on both occasions. In one instance, he had to restart the qualification process after the tragic death of his horse ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. On another occasion, he suffered a horrific accident just before the finish line in Australia. His horse died on the spot, and Usman was critically injured and left unconscious.

After extensive treatment and rehabilitation, he made a courageous return, aiming to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics with a younger horse. He made it onto the reserve list and was poised to represent Pakistan had a slot opened due to a withdrawal. However, Usman decided to withdraw from the world's most prestigious event due to limited resources.

He had fought only through just one young horse who was new to the four-star level. The combination required more experience to tackle the technical challenges posed by the advanced cross-country courses.

Looking ahead Usman is also a strong contender for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Surprisingly, his name is missing from the list of Pakistani athletes awarded the prestigious IOC scholarship granted through National Olympic Committees to athletes with Olympic potential. Given his consistent record, Usman’s omission from that list raises serious questions.

His journey, marked by determination and sacrifice, underscores the need for structured support from Pakistan’s sports authorities. With proper backing Usman Khan has the potential to bring unprecedented glory to the country on the world stage.