SAI supports gymnast Pranati Nayak's road to CWG, Asiad with International exposure, foreign training & national camps
New Delhi, May 29
Indian gymnast Pranati Nayak's preparation for the 2026 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games is being fuelled by the constant support of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, the Sports Authority of India, and Target Olympic Podium Scheme.
International exposure, foreign training, national coaching camps and other sustained support to her and the gymnastics team are being forwarded by the government.
Tokyo 2020 Olympian Pranati is currently part of the Senior & Junior Women's Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) National Coaching Camp underway at the High Performance Centre (HPC), Bhubaneswar from May 22 to June 20.
The camp is being conducted in preparation for the 13th Senior Asian Championships to be held in Zunyi, China from June 25 to 28, 2026. Pranati is a part of the Indian Senior WAG team in the competition. The camp in Bhubaneswar has been approved at a total cost of Rs 23.52 lakh and includes 21 campers comprising senior and junior gymnasts, coaches and support staff, the ministry said in a release.
It added that for the continental championships in China next month, the government has approved financial assistance amounting to Rs 36.59 lakh for the participation of the Indian Senior & Junior WAG contingent consisting of 17 members, including players, coaches and support staff.
Pranati has also received significant personalised support under TOPS. Financial assistance of Rs 5.89 lakh was sanctioned for Pranati Nayak along with her coach Ashok Kumar Mishra and physiotherapist Dr. Sweta Attili for participation in the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from May 19 to 25, 2026, where Pranati won a silver medal.
In another major intervention aimed at strengthening India's gymnastics programme ahead of the Olympic and Asian Games cycle, TOPS sanctioned Rs 75.65 lakh towards an international training camp in the United Kingdom from November 15 to December 15, 2025, along with participation in two international competitions held in February and April 2026.
The programme involved a 16-member Indian gymnastics contingent, including Pranati Nayak. However, Pranati could not be a part of it because of her injury.
Earlier this year, SAI had also approved a Senior National Coaching Camp for gymnastics at HPC Bhubaneswar from February 11 to March 15 as part of India's preparations for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games 2026. The camp involved 27 campers, including senior men and women gymnasts.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to see systematic support. But I hope the camps and training aren't just on paper. We need a long-term plan for gymnastics, not just last-minute preparations before major events. Also, Pranati's injury is concerning - hope she recovers fully before CWG 2026. All the best, Pranati! 💪
Rs 23.52 lakh for a camp and Rs 36.59 lakh for Asian Championships - that's good investment. But we need more gymnastics facilities across India, not just in Bhubaneswar. Our rural talent is immense but lacks access. Pranati is a trailblazer, hope she inspires many young girls to take up gymnastics! 👏
Appreciate the TOPS financial support - Rs 5.89 lakh for Tashkent and Rs 75.65 lakh for UK training. But why wasn't UK camp adjusted for Pranati when she got injured? Couldn't they have provided alternative training or physio support? These small things matter for athlete morale. Anyway, best wishes to her for Asian Championships! 🤸♀️
Proud moment for India! Pranati Nayak is a true fighter - from a small town to Olympics to winning silver in Tashkent. The government support is finally matching the athlete's dedication. Just wish we had more sports infrastructure in smaller cities too. But this is a positive step. Go Pranati! 🌟
The 21-member camp and 16-member UK contingent show scale. But I'm a bit skeptical - is
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.