Kekhriesilie Rio wins Grand Prix in France

Nagaland’s rising equestrian star Kekhriesilie Rio has clinched the Grand Prix title at Haras de Liverdy in France, riding his horse Presley OL, marking a major achievement for Indian equestrian sport.
The victory has drawn praise from vice president of the Athletics Federation of India, Abu Metha, who described it as a “remarkable moment” in international show jumping. Congratulating Rio, Metha said the achievement highlighted the potential of athletes from the Northeast to excel at the highest level with the right support and opportunities.
Rio’s success follows years of consistent performance. He first gained recognition at the Junior National Equestrian Championship (Endurance) in Dibrugarh in 2014–15, where he finished third. In 2018, he emerged national champion after winning the Junior National Equestrian Championship (Show Jumping) in Kolkata.
He entered the international arena in 2019, securing second place at the Asian Equestrian Federation Junior/Young Jumping Challenge.
In 2020, he delivered a standout performance at the FEI World Show Jumping Challenge (Category A) in Bengaluru, where he was ranked No. 2 globally and No. 1 in Asia.
Rio further strengthened his credentials in 2021 with a podium finish at the National Equestrian Championship (Senior) in Delhi in the Puissance event.
His latest triumph in France is being seen as a milestone for Nagaland and a boost to India’s presence in global equestrian competitions.