From setting a record to representing India in Asian Games, the former Captain from President’s Bodyguard Sajjan Kumar’s journey in the equestrian sport has been an inspiring one!
About 18 years ago, Captain (retired) Sajjan Kumar broke a 32-year-old national record and made it to the Limca Book of Records after he successfully jumped a height of 195 cm, mounted on his horse ‘Fariyad’ at the Delhi Horse Show conducted by Army Polo and Riding Club, New Delhi. Since then, nobody has been so close to breaking the record. But, that’s not Kumar’s only stupendous feat. The 57-year-old has earned several accolades at the national and international level in the equestrian sport. Not just that, he has been a part of the prestigious President’s Bodyguard—that was raised in 1773 and is the senior most Regiment of Indian Army—for 25 years.
Hailing from a remote village—Samchana—in Haryana’s Rohtak district, he grew up amid the clatter of hooves. Much of his childhood was spent listening to the story of his grandfather, Dhan Ram of 20 Jat Lancer—an armoured regiment in the Armoured Corps of the Indian Army—conquering his rivals in Burma (now Myanmar) during the First World War, mounted on a horse. Later, his father reared two horses at his ancestral home. “My father was not a trained rider. Neither had he used the horses for participating in equestrian sports. Rather, it was more of a hobby riding for him. He would ride through our lush green fields,” recalled Kumar, sitting at his present home in Kolkata.
At the age of 17, Kumar developed an intense desire of becoming a sportsperson. “I used to listen to the stories of Raghubir Singh, a notable equestrian of India. He was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1982 for his achievements. He had represented India in the Asian Games in 1982 and won a gold medal in the individual event. I wanted to represent my country at the Asian Games,” said Kumar. However, he was clueless about his choice of sport. Driven by his passion for sports, he started self-training in running. He made it a daily ritual to run through the fields for about an hour as early as 3.30am. And, it is still the same way he starts the day even at 57 years of age. With conspicuous pride, he shared: “I still run half-marathons. I believe in maintaining fitness.”
He was introduced to the equestrian sports finally after he made it to the President’s Bodyguard. “I am thankful to Indian Army, which provided me the opportunities and necessary infrastructure for practicing the sports. When I had joined the President’s Bodyguard, there were 90 horses with the regiment. The number went up to 200. It was not only about learning the sport alone; I studied about all its aspects and learnt to train the horses. It is important to train your horse for acing the sport. I developed a bond with them and they would identify me as I called out their names,” Kumar said, adding that a pavilion at the Rashtrapati Bhawan had been named after ‘Fariyad,’ his record-setting ‘companion.’ In 2001, Kumar had started taking up trials for Asian Games. And, in 2002 Asian Games in South Korea, he represented India in Show Jumping along with three others. Though team India failed to clinch a medal at the Asian Games that year, later in 2007 Kumar bagged a gold medal in London while participating in the inter-services event involving armies of 13 countries. Currently, Kumar trains teenagers at Tollygunge Club in Kolkata. As a trainer, he hopes someday his students will break his record. “In India, the riders get to participate in about 7 to 8 events round the year owing to the climatic conditions. However, in Europe the equestrian sports are played throughout the year. But, if you are determined, success will come to you. As a coach, I believe in instilling confidence in my students. I am certain that someday our country will clinch gold in the sport in the Asian Games,” he signed off.
Achievements
- In 2002 Asian Games in South Korea, he represented India in Show Jumping along with three others.
- In 2007 Kumar bagged a gold medal in London while participating in the inter-services event involving armies of 13 countries.
- In 2004, Sajjan Kumar broke a 32-year-old national record and made it to the Limca Book of Records after he successfully jumped a height of 195 cm, mounted on his horse
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