Nagaland equestrian athlete Kekhriesilie Rio has secured a major international achievement by winning a Grand Prix class at Haras de Liverdy, France, in a show jumping competition, riding Presley OL.
The achievement was shared on social media by Abu Metha, who described it as “a powerful reminder that with the right opportunities, our youth can scale the very highest levels.”
Rio, who hails from Touphema village in Kohima district, is among the few athletes from the North East to compete internationally in show jumping. In 2020, he was ranked World No. 2 in Category A by the Fédération Equestre Internationale, becoming the first Indian to reach that position. He also won the FEI World Jumping Challenge (South Zone) in Category A and has secured multiple national titles.
Introduced to horse riding at the age of eight at his school, The Assam Valley, Tezpur, Rio pursued his education at Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts in Pune while continuing his competitive career. He has expressed ambitions to represent India at major international events, including the Asian Games and the Olympics, while contributing to the growth of equestrian sport in the country.