Pranati Nayak Gears Up for Asian Games with Renewed Confidence

Pranati Nayak's Journey to the Asian Games

By Jagdish Yadav

New Delhi [India], September 16: Indian gymnast Pranati Nayak is approaching her fourth Asian Games with a fresh sense of confidence, thanks to a successful season and dedicated training at the Odisha AM/NS India Gymnastics High Performance Centre (GHPC) in Bhubaneswar. Here, she has concentrated on perfecting her execution and landing techniques in preparation for the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Games 2026.

The Tokyo Olympian will be the sole gymnast representing India at this year's Asian Games, competing in the women's vault event. She is scheduled to depart for Japan on Wednesday night.

"I am thrilled to represent India at the Asian Games and am fully focused on my performance," Pranati expressed before her journey.

At 31, she heads to Aichi-Nagoya after clinching a silver medal in the women's vault at the FIG World Challenge Cup 2026 held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. This medal marked her first of the year and served as a significant morale booster ahead of the continental competition.

"Winning that silver was fantastic. It was my first medal this year, and it motivated me to believe that I can achieve even more in the future," she shared.

Pranati emphasized that her training at the Bhubaneswar facility has been centered on enhancing the finer details of her vault, particularly focusing on execution and landing.

"The preparation has been excellent. This time, we are placing greater emphasis on execution and landing, which are crucial areas of focus," she noted.

She acknowledged the support from AM/NS India and Odisha Sports, which has been instrumental in helping her maintain her competitive edge.

"AM/NS India and Odisha Sports have been incredibly supportive. Their contributions have been vital in helping me sustain my performance. The facilities, equipment, and nutrition provided are top-notch, allowing me to keep my form," she added.

Pranati's personal coach, Ashok Kumar Mishra, expressed optimism about her preparations while recognizing the formidable competition from other Asian nations.

"Her preparation has been quite promising, especially after her silver win in Tashkent. We anticipated strong performances at the Commonwealth Games, but a minor error prevented her from reaching the finals. She narrowly missed out," Mishra explained.

"Currently, her training is solid, but the competition in Asia is fierce, with strong contenders from China, Japan, and Korea. Nevertheless, we are well-prepared for the vault event. Our aim is to reach the finals, and then we will give it our all," he added.

Mishra confirmed that Pranati will focus solely on the vault event in Japan, having stepped away from the all-around competition.

"Pranati will only compete in vaulting. She hasn't participated in the all-around for quite some time. Although she has been an all-around champion in India and has competed internationally, we decided that focusing on vaulting will allow her to continue winning medals," he stated.

Having finished eighth in the women's vault final at the previous Hangzhou Asian Games, Pranati aims to improve her performance and secure her first medal at this continental event.

She acknowledged the weight of being India's only gymnast in the contingent but emphasized her commitment to focusing on her performance.

"There is definitely a sense of responsibility, but I will concentrate on my performance and strive to do my best," she remarked.

Pranati's gymnastics journey began in 2002 in her West Bengal village, leading her to the Sports Authority of India center in Kolkata in 2003. After two decades of international competition, she relocated to Bhubaneswar in 2023, a move she credits with revitalizing her career.

"I started gymnastics in my village back in 2002, unaware of what it was. I then moved to Calcutta SAI in 2003. For two decades, I competed internationally while at SAI, and finally, I transitioned to Bhubaneswar in 2023," she recounted.

She also highlighted her coach, Mishra, as a pivotal figure in her career.

"My coach, Ashok Mishra, has been instrumental in my progress. Many thought my career was over, but moving to Bhubaneswar in 2023 gave me a fresh start. I feel I can achieve great things in gymnastics again," Pranati stated.

Mishra noted that the infrastructure and support at the Bhubaneswar center have significantly contributed to the growth of gymnasts.

"The advancements in gymnastics in Odisha are largely due to AM/NS India and the Government of Odisha. The government has provided world-class infrastructure, and AM/NS is heavily investing in gymnastics development," he remarked.

Pranati's gymnastics events at the Asian Games are set to commence on September 22, with Mishra hopeful that she can first secure a spot in the finals before aiming for a medal.

"Our competition starts on the 22nd. Gymnastics events run from the 21st to the 25th, but Pranati's first event is on the 22nd. We are optimistic about winning a medal this time. Our preparations are solid, and we hope she can adapt to the equipment and environment there," he concluded.

Having previously won bronze in the vault at the 2019 Asian Championships and represented India at the Tokyo Olympics, Pranati is eager to leverage her recent form and training for a strong showing in Aichi-Nagoya.

"I will give it my all, and I hope my fellow Indian competitors have also trained hard, so I am hopeful for the best outcome," she concluded.