Pranati looks to emulate Dipa
Kolkata, March 30: Indian gymnast Pranati Nayak is aiming to emulate her inspiration, Dipa Karmakar, at the Commonwealth Games beginning in Gold Coast from April 4.
Turning 23 on the day of the preliminary round, Pranati will look to make the finals and emulate Dipa, who won a historic bronze in Glasgow four years ago.
A three- member women’s artistic contingent led by Aruna Reddy hopes to fill in the void created by Dipa, who could not get fit in time for the Games.
“I’ve been training with her for a long time. The way she puts in hard work is really inspiring. Who does not wish to be like Dipa didi? I hope my birthday turns out to be special,” Pranati said from New Delhi before leaving for Australia.
Are the nerves getting the better of her?
“Nervous? Not at all, I’ve been training hard for this day. The first aim will be to secure a place for the finals,” said Pranati.
She finished fourth in the vault final at the Asian gymnastics championships in Bangkok in May last year.
Pranati has been doing the 360 backflip, front flip 180, and has added the backflip 720 to her repertoire recently.
“We have a week’s time now. If I feel confident only then will I include it during the competition,” she said as the team left for Gold Coast early this morning.
“Canada, Belgium will be our strong opponents. I’ve been seeing videos that are available on YouTube. First aim will be to secure a place in the final. I’m not thinking too far of winning a medal right now.”