Karachi : Usman Khan, the first Pakistani equestrian to qualify for the Olympics, has maintained that he will not change the name of his horse from Azad Kashmir, saying it was a trivial issue for him.
u201c Itu2019s a trivial issue really.
The horse was not named in response to the lockdown in Indian Kashmir,u201d Usman told the u2018 Dawnu2019 newspaper.
Usman, who very well knows that he has courted controversy in politically sensitive times, wants to cash in on this opportunity and get a sponsor for himself and his horse Azad Kashmir so that they can take part in the quadrennial extravaganza.
u201c Iu2019m looking for sponsors to bear the cost of taking me and Azad Kashmir to the Tokyo Olympics and this will only help our cause.u201d Usman said the original name of the horse was Here to Stay. u201c But after purchasing it, I renamed it as I have done with most of the horses in my stable. This name change cost $ 1000,u201d said Usman, who has named all his horses after beautiful areas of Northern Pakistan.
u201c Giving them those names help me foster my connection with my Motherland,u201d said Usman, who had also qualified for the 2014 and 2018 Asian Games but could not travel due to a lack of funding.
PTI Pak rider Usman refuses to change horseu2019s name Pakistani rider Usman Khan and his horse Azad Kashmir have secured a spot in the eventing discipline at the Tokyo Olympics
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