Edited by Deepali Verma
The Sports and Youth Services Department, Government of Odisha, is geared up to host the Senior Artistic Gymnastics National Championships for the 2023-24, at the Gymnastics Centre, Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar. Recently, it successfully hosted the Junior Artistic Gymnastics National Championship.
Under the aegis of the Odisha Gymnastics Association and the Gymnastics Federation of India, the championship is dated to be held from 2-4 January 2024 in the state capital and will feature Olympians Pranati Nayak and Dipa Karmakar as well as other accomplished national gymnasts like Yogeshwar Singh, Rakesh Patra, Tapan Mohanty, Saif Tamboli, Gaurav Kumar among others.
In conversation before the event, Ashok Mishra, Head Coach, Odisha AM/NS India Gymnastics High Performance Centre said, “The previously held Junior Artistic Gymnastics National Championship was conducted smoothly and was a huge success. Now, we are excited to host the Senior National Championship. A lot of national athletes like Dipa, Pranati Nayak, Yogeshwar Singh, Rakesh, Tapan, Gaurav and various others will be taking part. The stakes are high and surely, it will be a very interesting tournament.”
Bishweshwar Nandi who happens to be Dipa’s coach stated, “It feels great to be here. Both the venue and apparatus are of Olympic standards. Dipa is taking part in the National Championship after nearly eight years. There will be Pranati Das, Pranati Nayak, Aruna Reddy among various other senior athletes that will be taking part as well, so it’s a good thing. I couldn’t attend the Junior Nationals, but I would like to see the junior athletes compete against these senior athletes. I like the Gymnastics Centre here, and I really wish that it produces a strong contingent in the next two years for the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and the Olympics.”
Pranati, training at the Odisha AM/NS India Gymnastics High Performance Centre expressed her enthusiasm on taking part at the National Championship. She said, “I will be representing the Indian Railways and I am really excited that the Senior Gymnastics National Championship is going to be held at the same place where I train.”
A participation turnout of close to 300 participants from across the country are expected to take part in what will be a grand spectacle of gymnastics.
