Indian gymnast Pranati Nayak is gearing up for the Asian Games, aiming for an elusive gold in the vault despite new challenges from Chinese competitors who are now dominating her strongest event.
Chasing That Elusive Gold
Pranati Nayak has a remarkable record of three bronze medals on the vault at the Asian Gymnastics Championships. However, it’s the gold medal that truly motivates her, pushing her through pain and a disciplined lifestyle in Bhubaneswar.
She lives a solitary existence, meticulously managing her diet to maintain the perfect weight. This precision allows her to perform an extra half-rotation, aiming for a more complex 720 Tsukahara vault instead of her usual 540.
A New Challenge Emerges
Historically, Chinese gymnasts have excelled in other apparatus like floor exercise and uneven bars. But recently, they’ve started making significant inroads in the vault, a development that has surprised Pranati.
“The Chinese have started showing up in vault, which they didn’t earlier,” Pranati noted, reflecting on her recent return from Jecheon, South Korea. There, she secured her third bronze, following her wins in 2019 and 2022.
During the competition, Paris Olympian Zhang Yinan clinched gold in the vault, with Pranati finishing closely behind. This strong performance by Chinese vaulters has become a key focus for Pranati’s Asian Games preparation.
Overcoming Hurdles on the Mat
Pranati faced several issues during the Jecheon championships. In qualification, three oversteps led to a penalty, a setback she attributes partly to a different brand of springboard.
Her usual training is on Gymnova apparatus, but the competition used Tyson equipment. With a lingering ankle injury, the different springboard affected her take-off, impacting her elevation and rotations crucial for a clean landing.
Despite a strong first vault in the finals, her second vault couldn’t quite push her beyond bronze. “Gold and silver were there for the taking but I couldn’t stick a clean landing,” she admitted, regretting a small step forward that kept her score just shy of the top.
Rigorous Preparation for Peak Form
At 30, Pranati understands the challenges of recovery. Her training involves careful management of an ankle injury, alternating between weeks of rest and strengthening, and weeks dedicated to vault practice.
She undergoes regular medical checks, including ultrasounds for her elbow and ankle. Thanks to funding from Welspun, she has access to top medical facilities and a curated diet, with junk food completely off limits.
Pranati also benefits from the Abhinav Bindra Targeting Performance (ABTP) facility for rehabilitation sessions and therapies like Shockwave therapy for muscle pain. While these resources are vital, securing funds for her personal coach, Ashok Mishra, to travel with her remains a challenge.
Despite these hurdles, Pranati is determined to enhance her technique and attempt vaults with higher difficulty scores, ready to face the heightened competition at the Asian Games.
- Pranati Nayak holds three Asian Championships bronze medals in vault.
- Chinese gymnasts are emerging as strong contenders in the vault, posing a new challenge.
- Nayak is rigorously training to upgrade her vault difficulty, aiming for a 720 Tsukahara.
- She manages ongoing injuries and maintains a strict diet for optimal performance.
With her eyes fixed on gold, Pranati is pushing her limits, ready to demonstrate her strength and resilience at the upcoming Asian Games.
