Kohima, April 30: Nagaland’s rising equestrian talent Kekhriesilie Rio has achieved a significant international breakthrough by winning the Grand Prix at the Haras de Liverdy Grand Prix in France, riding his horse Presley OL. The victory is being regarded as a major milestone for Indian showjumping and a notable achievement for athletes from the Northeast competing on the global stage.
Reacting to the development, Abu Metha, Vice-President of the Athletics Federation of India, described the win as a landmark moment for Indian equestrian sport. He noted that Rio’s success reflects the potential of young athletes to reach the highest levels of competition when given adequate support and opportunities, and extended his congratulations while encouraging further accomplishments.
Rio’s journey in the sport has been shaped by a series of consistent performances at both national and international levels. He first gained attention after securing third place in the Individual category at the Junior National Equestrian Championship (Endurance) held in Dibrugarh during 2014–15. He went on to clinch the Junior National Equestrian Championship (Show Jumping) title in Kolkata in 2018, establishing himself as a national-level contender.
His international presence strengthened in 2019 when he finished second at the Asian Equestrian Federation Junior/Young Jumping Challenge. A year later, he delivered a standout performance at the FEI World Show Jumping Challenge in Bengaluru, where he achieved a global ranking of second and emerged as the top-ranked rider in Asia in Category A.
Continuing his upward trajectory, Rio secured another podium finish at the National Equestrian Championship (Senior) in New Delhi in 2021 in the Puissance jumping event, further cementing his status among India’s leading equestrian athletes.
