Bhubaneswar: At a time when children of her age play with toys, she has made a mark in equestrian sports. We are talking about five-year-old Riddhi Samantray who has brought laurel to the state by winning the gold medal in the children’s category at the Horse Riding Show Competition in Delhi.
Daughter of Colonel Asish Samantaray and Rohini Singh Deo, Riddhi is a UKG student of KIIT International School. She was the youngest rider to compete in the event.
Inspired by his father who was riding horses as an Army officer, Riddhi went into horse riding under her father’s guidance.
Taking to X handle, the Odisha Sports Department praised Riddhi and wrote: “#Odisha’s wonder kid Riddhi Samantaray made the State proud, winning the Gold in the children’s category at the Delhi Horse Show Riding Competition in Delhi. The five-year-old Bhubaneswar girl was the youngest rider to compete in the event. Many congratulations little champ!”
Notably, Riddhi’s elder sister Rishita had made Odisha proud by winning a bronze medal in the Open Hacks event of the Delhi Horse Show at Army Polo and Rising Centre in New Delhi. She was among over 100 horse riders who took part in the event.
Her elder sister Rishita had won silver & bronze both in Delhi Horse Show last year.
Both sisters are hopeful of participating in the Asian and Olympic Games in future and making horse riding popular among Odisha children.
