Indian gymnast Pranati Nayak made history last Saturday by clinching the bronze medal in the vault final at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics Apparatus World Cup in Antalya, Turkey. The 28-year-old became only the third female Indian gymnast to secure a medal on the international vault stage, scoring a total of 13.417. She finished behind the American duo of Jayla Hang, who won gold with a total score of 13.667, and Claire Pease, who secured silver with 13.567.
This achievement marks a significant milestone in Nayak’s career, as she continues to establish herself among India’s top gymnasts, joining the ranks of Dipa Karmakar and Aruna Budda Reddy. A decorated athlete, Nayak had previously won a bronze medal in vault at the 2019 Asian Championships and secured gold in the all-around category at the 2019 Indian Championships.
Nayak’s journey to success has been anything but easy. Born in Jhargram, West Bengal, she began training at the age of six and later moved to Kolkata for advanced coaching under Minara Begum. Over the years, she has represented India at multiple international competitions, including the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games. Her unwavering dedication and resilience have propelled her from a small town to the global gymnastics stage.
Despite suffering a major elbow injury in October 2023, which sidelined her for a month, Nayak remained determined. With the constant support of her coach, Ashok Kumar Mishra, she fought through her setbacks to return stronger. Her recent achievement is not just a personal victory but a proud moment for Indian gymnastics.
Nayak’s grit and relentless effort still fire up young athletes, putting India’s growing clout in world gymnastics front and center. Her latest win at the FIG World Cup proves her hard work pays off, showing Indian gymnasts can slug it out with the best globally.
