Fouaad Mirza, an Indian international sportsperson, is associated with which sport?

Introduction / Context:
This question examines knowledge of Indian athletes who have achieved recognition in less common Olympic sports. Fouaad Mirza is an important figure because he revived national interest in equestrian sports by winning medals at major international events. Knowing his discipline helps learners expand their sports general knowledge beyond only cricket or mainstream athletics.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The sportsperson mentioned is Fouaad Mirza.
• The task is to identify his main competitive sport.
• Four options are provided, belonging to different Olympic style disciplines.
• Only one option corresponds to his actual international career.

Concept / Approach:
The approach is straightforward factual recall. Equestrian events involve horse and rider combinations and are divided into disciplines such as eventing, dressage and show jumping. Fouaad Mirza has represented India in eventing and has secured medals at continental games. Recognising his name and linking it to equestrian sport allows the learner to quickly select the right option and reject unrelated track and field or shooting events.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall what sport Fouaad Mirza is associated with in sports news and current affairs.Step 2: Remember that he won medals for India in equestrian eventing at competitions such as the Asian Games.Step 3: Compare this with the available options: equestrian, long jump, shot put and shooting.Step 4: Long jump and shot put are track and field events, where different Indian athletes are known, not Fouaad Mirza.Step 5: Shooting is another separate sport in which other Indian champions appear, but not Fouaad Mirza. Thus equestrian is the correct choice.

Verification / Alternative check:
An alternative check is to recall headlines about India winning medals in equestrian eventing after a long gap at the Asian level. Fouaad Mirza was repeatedly highlighted as the rider who accomplished this with his horse partnerships. No similar coverage links his name with long jump, shot put or shooting. This consistent association with equestrian sport verifies the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B, long jump, is a track and field discipline where Indian names like Anju Bobby George or M Sreeshankar are often mentioned, not Fouaad Mirza. Option C, shot put, is another athletics throwing event associated with different athletes. Option D, shooting, involves firearms and is connected with shooters such as Abhinav Bindra and Gagan Narang. None of these sports match the equestrian achievements of Fouaad Mirza, so they are incorrect here.

Common Pitfalls:
One common mistake is to assume that an unfamiliar sportsperson must be from athletics or cricket, because those are covered more in media. Another pitfall is simply guessing between long jump or shot based on the idea that they are field events, instead of remembering that equestrian is a separate Olympic sport. To avoid such errors, examine recent sports current affairs lists and deliberately note athletes from disciplines like equestrian, rowing or gymnastics which are increasingly relevant for exams.

Final Answer:
Fouaad Mirza is associated with the sport of equestrian eventing.