'Nothing Against West Bengal', But Moving To Odisha Did Help Pranati Nayak Win Gymnastic Bronze

nothing against west bengal, but moving to odisha did help pranati nayak win gymnastic bronze

West Bengal’s Pranati Nayak clinched a well-deserved bronze medal in the recently held women’s vault event at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics Apparatus World Cup in Cairo, Egypt. This victory marks a significant achievement for Nayak, not only adding another medal to her collection but also cementing her position as a leading contender for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.

Competing against some of the world’s best gymnasts, Nayak demonstrated her exceptional talent and resilience throughout the competition and secured the medal in the first of the four legs of the FIG Apparatus World Cup 2024 series.

Nayak’s achievement carries wider significance for Indian gymnastics. She becomes only the third Indian woman to win a medal at the FIG World Cup series, joining the ranks of Aruna Reddy and Dipa Karmakar.

But her journey has been one of sacrifices, as Nayak left her home state of Bengal and started training at the Odisha AM/NS India Gymnastics High Performance Centre. The 28-year-old did not want to attribute her bronze medal solely to the move and told Sports Now that she had nothing against Bengal, but admitted that the transition to OGHPC did provide a conducive environment that helped her thrive. “I have nothing against West Bengal, but moving to Odisha allowed me to access state-of-the-art equipment and specialized coaches, factors crucial for refining gymnastic skills at the highest level.”

Nayak, who trained under Minara Begum for more than 15 years, has been under the tutelage of a foreign coach, Amani (from Egypt), for the last two months. Nayak said that she definitely received valuable insights from Amani and was equally happy with her increased levels of fitness. ” My fitness has improved, and now my focus is mainly on the vault.”

A tailored approach might have allowed coaches to focus on Nayak’s individual strengths and weaknesses, leading to more targeted training and faster improvement. Unlike some multi-disciplinary training centres, the OGHPC is dedicated solely to gymnastics.

With this bronze medal under her belt, Nayak has undoubtedly gained valuable momentum and confidence as she prepares for the upcoming challenges. The Indian gymnastics community eagerly awaits her performances in the Baku and Doha legs, hoping for even greater success in her quest for Olympic glory.

It’s important to remember that Nayak’s success is also a testament to her own dedication, talent, and hard work. Her move to the OGHPC might have provided the ideal platform for her talent to flourish, but ultimately, her perseverance and commitment translated into a podium finish.