Has Pakistan’s horse arrived safely ahead of the Asian Games?
TOKYO, Japan: Pakistan’s horse Eden du Veret, known as “Mirage”, has arrived safely in Japan ahead of the country’s debut in eventing at the 2026 Asian Games, while some essential equipment for the Pakistani delegation has been delayed during transportation.
Pakistani rider Usman Khan confirmed that Eden du Veret had reached Tokyo as preparations continued for the equestrian competition at the JRA Equestrian Park.
Khan and Eden du Veret will represent Pakistan in the individual and team eventing competitions, scheduled from September 20 to 23.
Pakistan is set to make its first Asian Games appearance in the Olympic discipline of eventing. Khan secured the required Minimum Eligibility Requirement at a three-star eventing competition in Lignières, France, in September 2025.
Why has some of Pakistan’s equestrian equipment been delayed?
Transport agents handling the horses and equipment told national federations that an additional 4,900 kilogrammes of cargo had been delivered to Liege, exceeding the quantities originally booked.
Due to aircraft payload restrictions, the entire consignment could not be loaded on the scheduled flight. The equipment was subsequently consolidated into a single shipment, making it difficult to identify individual national delegations’ consignments.
The agents said alternative arrangements were being made to expedite the remaining equipment to Japan.
According to the latest schedule, 19 pieces of the consolidated consignment were transported on Qatar Airways flight QR806 from Doha to Narita on September 16, with another 34 pieces scheduled for the following day.
Usman has sought an urgent update on whether Pakistan’s equipment was included in either shipment. He said Pakistan had purchased a 200-kilogramme baggage allowance and had already reduced its load by 30 kilogrammes, removed 20 kilogrammes of feed and taken out other equipment.
The rider said the timing of the equipment’s arrival was important for final training preparations before competition.
Eden du Veret completed 70 days of quarantine in France and Germany before travelling to Japan, with all required tests reported negative.
The eventing competition will begin with the trot-up and veterinary inspection on September 20, followed by dressage on September 21, cross-country on September 22 and show jumping on September 23.