Usman Khan is the first Pakistani athlete to qualify for the equestrian events at Tokyo 2020 ©FEI

Usman Khan, the first Pakistani athlete to secure a place in equestrian at the Olympic Games, could be forced to requalify for Tokyo 2020 after his horse passed away.

Azad Kashmir, who Khan rode when he qualified for Tokyo 2020 earlier this year, died after suffering a severe heart attack.

Athletes and their horse qualify as a pair for the Olympics, leaving Khan's place at the postponed Tokyo 2020 Games in doubt.

Khan, ranked 245th in the world in eventing, said the death of his horse was a huge blow and called for someone to step in to fund his Olympic dream.

The pair would have competed at Tokyo 2020 had the event not been postponed to 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"We are devastated," Khan told The News.

"We don’t have a back up horse.

"Honestly, financial loss becomes insignificant when compared to the bigger picture."

Usman Khan could be forced to requalify in equestrian at Tokyo 2020 ©Getty Images
Usman Khan could be forced to requalify in equestrian at Tokyo 2020 ©Getty Images

 Khan added: "Pakistan's voyage to Olympics with Azad Kashmir was an epic journey.

"The International Equestrian Federation does allow a provision to secure another horse and start again.

"Someone has to fund. 

"Only if someone sees the bigger picture.

"Azad and I fulfilled our promise, we qualified, we delivered. 

"We did more than that. 

"The world wasn’t ready for us in July 2020."