Nagaland’s equestrian rider Kekhriesilie Rio has won the Grand Prix title at the Haras de Liverdy Grand Prix in France, marking a landmark moment for Indian showjumping as he secured the top honour aboard Presley OL in the prestigious international competition.
The victory places Rio among a select group of Indian riders to achieve success at a high-level European event, underlining the growing presence of Indian equestrians on the global stage. Competing against an international field, Rio delivered a standout performance to clinch the title.
The achievement has been widely hailed as a significant milestone not only for Indian equestrian sport but also for athletes from the Northeast, who have increasingly made their mark in international competitions.
Abu Metha, Vice-President of the Athletics Federation of India, praised the accomplishment and described it as a defining moment for Indian showjumping. Sharing visuals from the event, he said Rio’s success reflected the potential of young athletes when given the right support and exposure.
Metha congratulated the rider and urged him to continue striving for greater success while bringing recognition to Nagaland and the country.
Rio’s journey in equestrian sport has been marked by steady progress and consistent performances over the years. His early breakthrough came in 2014–15 when he secured third place in the Individual category at the Junior National Equestrian Championship (Endurance) held in Dibrugarh.
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He followed this with a national title in 2018, winning the Junior National Equestrian Championship (Show Jumping) in Kolkata, a result that established him as one of India’s most promising riders in the discipline.
Rio’s international rise gathered momentum in 2019 when he finished second at the Asian Equestrian Federation Junior/Young Jumping Challenge, signalling his readiness to compete at higher levels.
In 2020, he delivered another notable performance at the FEI World Show Jumping Challenge in Bengaluru, where he was ranked No. 2 globally and emerged as the top-ranked rider in Asia in Category A.
He continued to build on his success in 2021 with a podium finish at the National Equestrian Championship (Senior) in New Delhi in the Puissance jumping event, reinforcing his standing among India’s leading equestrian talents.
The latest Grand Prix triumph in France is seen as a culmination of years of dedication and progression, further strengthening India’s footprint in international equestrian sport.
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