Kolkata: Gymnastics has never been really high in the Indian agenda, until the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, five years ago, changed a little.
Sports that need fitness and extreme flexibility, vaulted with Dipa Karmakar to Indian conscience.
Now, with a few days left for the Tokyo Olympics to start, another girl hopes to continue her legacy in Dipa.
Praniati nayak, comes from Pingla Nondescript in the midnapore district of Bengal, knows that DIPA has raised the bar so high that the best safe in Tokyo might not be near it.
And he was not under the illusion.
“I will be very happy if I reach the best personally,” he told Ti among the training session at the Sai Eastern Center here.
“I’ve been sitting at home for more than a year since the pandemic hit us.
I’ve started practicing again just two months back.
My fitness is far from ideal.
I will, of course, give my best shot, but it might not.
Enough.” But, Isn’t the situation the same for everyone? Not enough, Praniati explained.
“I have attended other gymnast preparations.
They have practiced throughout – even during locking.” Maybe he will also practice if he realizes his qualifics for the Olympics.
He knew only in April that he had cut, following the cancellation of the Asian championship.
“I received the Asian quota because my rank was the best,” he said.
Immediately, Sai opened the door of Kolkata for him.
“We make special arrangements for prenetic training because he is the only one of our centers who will travel to Tokyo,” said Sai Eastern India Vineet Kumar.
“We have created competition like a situation for him, of course maintaining social distance because he is in bio bubble,” he added.
It was like the opportunity for gods for 26 years old, who had given up all hope.
A year without activity in Pingla has destroyed his dream.
“I tried to practice at home, but it was hardly helpful.
I can’t find a multi-gym around, where I can at least do my fitness.” His father, a private bus driver, is based on a pandemic and finance is always a stumbling block.
However, two months in the Sai Center have rejuvenated in prenune.
Even though the reality has been hit hard, dreams are located deep inside.