NEW DELHI: Indian dressage rider Shruti Vora has sought the immediate intervention of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), alleging that the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) failed to process horse owner accreditation for the Asian Games despite receiving the required documents nearly two months before the deadline.In a letter addressed to the IOA, a copy of which is with TOI, Shruti, a member of the Indian dressage team for the Asian Games, alleged that all required horse owner details, duly notarised, were submitted to the EFI on June 3. According to her, neither she nor fellow athletes received an acknowledgement or response from the federation despite repeated follow-ups on July 13, 17, 19 and 30.Shruti has alleged that the EFI raised the issue with the Asian Games Organising Committee in Japan only on July 29 — nearly two months after receiving the documentation from the athletes. Further reminders were sent by athletes on August 2 and 3, she said.The matter, according to Shruti’s letter, took a more serious turn on August 14, when the Asian Games Organising Committee informed the EFI that while FEI regulations permit two horse owner accreditations or passes per horse, the names of the horse owners were required to have been submitted along with the Definite Entries.Shruti has alleged that the delay by the EFI has consequently left horse owners at risk of being denied accreditation, despite the athletes having submitted the required information well in advance.“This is not an unavoidable administrative issue,” Shruti alleged in her communication to the IOA, describing the situation as a consequence of what she termed a “serious failure” by the federation to act on documentation submitted in time.The dressage rider also questioned whether athletes’ interests and essential administrative requirements were being handled with the seriousness expected of a national sports federation representing India at the Asian Games.For equestrian athletes, horse owners and support personnel can play an important role during major international competitions, and Shruti argued that athletes should not be made to bear the consequences of an administrative delay when they had completed the required formalities within the stipulated time.Shruti has now requested the IOA to intervene with the EFI and the Asian Games Organising Committee and ensure that the horse owner accreditations are processed as originally requested.She has also sought written confirmation of the resolution, stressing that the matter is “urgent and time sensitive” with the Games approaching.The rider said repeated attempts by athletes to resolve the matter directly with the EFI had allegedly resulted in neither timely action nor meaningful communication, prompting them to seek IOA intervention.Shruti’s letter is an allegation from the athlete’s side, and the claims regarding the EFI’s handling of the accreditation process have not been independently established. The EFI’s response to the allegations was not included in the communication shared by Shruti.The Asian Games 2026 are scheduled to be held in Japan, with the Indian equestrian contingent preparing for the continental multi-sport event. Shruti has urged the IOA to ensure that athletes are not prejudiced by what she alleges are administrative failures beyond their control.
