Meet young Saima Syed and her best pal–Aravalli, the rare mare. Between them, they are among the finest in horse-riding in India
Times Headline Bureau
With a tricolour in her hand, Saima Syed, 20, proudly flaunts her unique achievement. She has become the country’s first ‘One Star’ female horse-rider.
She has achieved the feat of becoming a ‘One Star Rider’ by qualifying with a bronze medal in the 80 km Endurance Race in Ahmedabad on February 17/18, this year, under the joint aegis of the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) and All India Marwari Horse Society, Gujarat Chapter.
Saima spent her childhood in a small town called Nagaur, near Jodhpur, when she made up her mind that she would become a leading horse-rider of India, riding on her favourite partner, Aravalli, her mare. It was quite rare for a girl to nurture such a big dream, since this sport is rarely played in small towns. Women and young girls participating in this sport is rare.
She dreams of another feat: “To bag a gold medal for India in an international tournament.”
Her achievement in the Endurance Race has enabled her to participate in international events. In the Gujarat event, she covered the distance of 80 km and earned a bronze. It has made her a ‘Star Category’ horse-rider, a first for any woman in India.
In an event organised by the EFI, she was not rated as a favourite. “I had my faith in God that he would not let my confidence shake in any case. It was challenging, because, to cover the distance of 80 km through a curved path was, undoubtedly, a difficult task. I had to maintain my confidence and keep my mare, Aravalli, in good spirits. My loyal partner — she is originally a Marwari from Gujarat. I was apprehensive that she might get distracted in a new place, but she proved me wrong. She was more enthusiastic than me,” Saima shares her experience, gleefully.
She competed with renowned equestrian riders in the competition. The bronze was hard-earned. Before this event, she had qualified in the 40 km and 60 km races. She had earned a gold in a 60 km race.
Interestingly, there is no separate Endurance Competition for men and women. They have to compete together. Saima proved her mettle and was called ‘wonder woman’.
Apart from this accolade, she has also won laurels in Show Jumping and other forms of horse-racing competitions. Her One Star status will enable her to take part in other international events.
Now, the EFI has issued an NOC to her to participate in Asian and European countries. While issuing the certificate, EFI general secretary, Colonel Jaiveer Singh, said that she has been included on the recommendation of the EFI. Now, Saima’s way has been opened to play for India in the Endurance Race of 100 km and above.
In horse-riding competitions like Endurance, the horse (or mare) is as important as the horse-rider. The horse and its rider are viewed as one unit. Saima has been riding Aravalli, her ‘bestie’, in almost all the events. Her favourite mare shares her success equally.
She feels intensely grateful to her ‘bestie’: “When people wish me on my success, I tell them that they should, instead, bow before Aravalli. She deserves all the honours accorded to me.”
She believes that the peculiarity of horse-riding is that you learn to spend as much time with your horse as possible. “It automatically generates a natural bond between the horse and the rider. You find a life-long friend through whom you understand nature in a better way. This is a unique sport in the world where an animal is your partner and he/she wins medals for you. This way, you become more grateful to nature. This emotional bond with your horse is emotionally overwhelming,” she says.
Saima’s father, Syed Moinul Haque, is a Kayaking (boating) Asian qualifier. One of her brothers is in the shooting team of Rajasthan Police. He is a multiple medal-winner. Her other brother, Juned Syed, is also a national-level shooter and has won many medals.
Her elder sister, Maseera Syed, is a national-level soft-ball player. Another sister, Sara Syed, is a national-level archer. She credits her early interest in sports, and choosing it as a future career, to her parents, and the extended family, which backed her totally.
“I was lucky to have a supportive and sporting family. They always motivated me. I inherited and learned to work hard from my father, and his elder brother, Syed Ataul Haque,” she says.
Her grandfather, Syed Imanul Haque, was a freedom fighter and an Islamic scholar. He worked in Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited. She says that her grandfather always favoured giving equal opportunities to girls.
“He always said that women have as much right to move ahead in life as men do. He wanted to see me become a champion in sports. He would have been very happy to see me achieve that feat today,” says a grateful Saima.
Did being Muslim place any hurdle in her choosing a career in sports?
“Not at all. You can see, I wear a hijab. Islam is not against sports. Actually, horse-riding has been a favourite game of Muslims since ages. I was fond of this game since my childhood. It was easy to opt for it as a future career,” she says.
Saima brushes aside any question of facing any hurdle or discrimination because of her gender and religion.
She is certain that one day she will proudly unfurl the Indian tricolour on the international stage!