HANGZHOU (China): Thai Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana added a touch of royalty to the Asian Games as she participated in the equestrian competition, following encouragement from King Maha Vajiralongkorn himself.
The 36-year-old princess, who previously competed in badminton at the 2006 Games, is now a part of Thailand’s dressage team, representing her country in both team and individual events in Hangzhou.
Expressing her dedication, Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana said, “I will do my best for (the people of Thailand). They’re my cheerleaders, my power, my fuel. I play for the Thai people.”
This marks her third appearance at the Asian Games. In addition to badminton in 2006, she also participated in the 2014 Games in South Korea. The princess, who started riding at the age of nine and received training in France, credited her father’s support for her athletic pursuits. She shared, “Luckily our father is supporting us. He has always said, ‘Go for it! You want to do it? Do it.’ He knows that what drives my heart is horses and badminton. Since my grandfather’s time, the royal family has always competed in sports.”
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Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana is following a tradition of royalty participating in top-level equestrian sports. Britain’s Zara Phillips, for example, won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics in equestrian events.
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Outside the world of sports, Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana is also known for her passion for fashion design, having showcased her creations at Paris Fashion Week.
She mentioned her sister as a source of inspiration for her current venture into equestrianism in China. “I do it for my sister. My sister is a horse-lover and a show-jumper, and she wants to be on the national team, but she cannot make it,” she explained. “So she gave everything to me: all the information, all of her strategy, all of the equipment.”
Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol, her elder sister, faced health issues last year, including heart, lung, and kidney problems, which led to her hospitalization.
