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Title: CLEAR THE BAR: BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION IN COMPETITIVE EQUESTRIAN SPORTS IN INDIA
Authors: Satya Kalra
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Satya Kalra The Shri Ram School- Moulsari, New Delhi, India
MLA 8 Kalra, Satya. "CLEAR THE BAR: BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION IN COMPETITIVE EQUESTRIAN SPORTS IN INDIA." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, vol. 3, no. 9, Sept. 2018, pp. 4633-4641, ijsser.org/more2018.php?id=327. Accessed Sept. 2018. APA Kalra, S. (2018, September). CLEAR THE BAR: BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION IN COMPETITIVE EQUESTRIAN SPORTS IN INDIA. Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, 3(9), 4633-4641. Retrieved from ijsser.org/more2018.php?id=327 Chicago Kalra, Satya. "CLEAR THE BAR: BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION IN COMPETITIVE EQUESTRIAN SPORTS IN INDIA." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research 3, no. 9 (September 2018), 4633-4641. Accessed September, 2018. ijsser.org/more2018.php?id=327.
References [1]. "Brief History of Equestrian Federation of India". Federeation Equestre Internationale, https://data.fei.org/NFPages/NF/Details/Federation/57/EQUESTRIAN-FEDERATIONOF-INDIA-, Accessed July 20 2018. [2]. "Clubs". Equestrian Federation of India, http://modules.efinf.org/Club.aspx, Accessed on Jul 20 2018 [3]. Mukhi, Anil. "Why India must get into the equine race". The Hindu, Jan 8 2002, https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/bline/2002/01/08/stories/2002010800041300.htm, Accessed on Jul 20 2002. [4]. Thomas, Prince Matthews. "Why India Doesn't have an Equestrian Olympic Team". Forbes India Magazine, Jul 14, 2012, http://www.forbesindia.com/article/london-olympics2012/why-india-doesnt-have-an-equestrian-olympic-team/33338/1, Accessed on Jul 20, 2018. [5]. Special Correspondent, The Hindu " Indian equestrian team for Asiad", June 4,2018, https://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/indian-equestrian-team-forasiad/article24082160.ece [6]. The Times of India, "Why India cancelled its equestrian squad for Asiad 2018" June 6, 2018 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/why-india-cancelled-itsequestrian-squad-for-asiad-2018/articleshow/64481673.cms [7]. G Rajaraman, Firstpost, "EFI's selection fracas for Asian Games equestrian events leads to questions from IOA, shows need for better process" Published on June 11 2018. https://www.firstpost.com/sports/efis-selection-fracas-for-asian-games-equestrian-eventsleads-to-questions-from-ioa-shows-need-for-better-process-4505033.html [8]. "Hall of Fame", Equestrian Federation of India. Accessed on July 20 2018. http://www.efinf.org/award.html
Abstract: The history of equestrian sports in India spans centuries, where the access to these sports was mainly limited to the royalty. This was a by-product of not just monarchy, but also the caste system prevalent in India, which restricted horse rising to the highest stratum of the society. This was further perpetuated by the rule of the British and the Mughals. Unfortunately, the situation remained very similar after India achieved its independence from the British Raj in 1947. Most civilians could not afford to own horses in this era, and equestrian sports were primarily practiced by Indian Army officers. This paper studies multiple concerns around the access of equestrian sport in India such as infrastructural facilities, lack of investment, issues around coaching and institutional hurdles. It also includes an interview with multiple equestrian professionals who provide ethnographic details about issues around the sport's access to the populace in India and abroad. It concludes with policy recommendations around the sport such as relieving governmental regulation, increasing corporate funding and widening spectatorship of the sport.

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