Priyanshi Pareek
Divyakriti Singh, the talented Indian equestrian athlete, attained a remarkable milestone by securing the gold medal in the team event for Equestrian Dressage at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Her outstanding performance led to her well-deserved recognition. Aprestigious honour in the form of the Arjuna Award for 2023, bestowed upon her by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India.
Early life
Divyakriti Singh Rathore, born on October 29, 1999, in Jaipur, Rajasthan, is 24 years old as of 2023 and carries the zodiac sign of Libra. Her schooling journey culminated at Mayo College Girls School, Ajmer, Rajasthan, where she completed her education in 2017. Fascinated by her family’s heritage in polo. Her father and grandfather were notable polo players. She gravitated towards horse riding during her 7th grade. Notably, she served as the equestrian captain of her school team.
For her higher education, Divyakriti pursued graduation at Jesus and Mary College (JMC), affiliated with the University of Delhi, Delhi. Her upbringing revolved around Mundota Fort and Palace, an estate and business owned by her family, which likely played a significant role in shaping her passion for equestrian sports.
Awards and Recognition
- India Today Woman Summit Award on 26 October 2023.
- The Sawai Jaipur Awards 2023
- IPA Junior National Polo Championship Winner in 2016, 2017
Divyakriti Singh capped off a remarkable year by clinching the esteemed Arjuna Award, embellishing her journey after securing the historic equestrian dressage gold medal at the Asian Games. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, announcing the National Sports Awards 2023 in New Delhi, honored Divyakriti after her nomination on December 13, culminating in her dream moment just a week later.
Recognizing her outstanding performance, the government will confer the awards, including Divyakriti’s accolade, on January 9, 2024, at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Hailing from Rajasthan, she stands as the sole recipient of this prestigious award from the state this year, marking her as the first Indian woman in equestrian to be bestowed with the Arjuna Award.
As the gold medalist in equestrian at the 2022 Asian Games, her inclusion among the elite awardees resulted from a rigorous selection process conducted by a distinguished committee, chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Khanvilkar. Comprising esteemed sporting figures, the committee lauded Divyakriti’s exceptional contributions to equestrian sports.
An elated Divyakriti stated, “It is a humbling experience, and I am grateful to my horses and my coaches, who played an equally important role in helping me achieve this feat. I am also thankful to my family who supported me wholeheartedly throughout my journey. It’s a special feeling to get honoured with such a prestigious award,” Divyakriti told TOI on Wednesday.
With a confident demeanor, Divyakriti acknowledged that receiving the Arjuna Award serves as both motivation and added responsibility for her future endeavors. She expressed a commitment to not only excel in the coming years but also fulfill the expectations placed upon her by everyone.
“It is certainly a morale-boosting award for me. I am glad that I am the first woman player to get the Arjuna Award in equestrian. It will keep me going to pump in more effort and hard work. I want to use this as a launch-pad to bring more laurels to the country. I may be the first, but I want to see more girls winning this award in the future,” said Divyakriti.