India’s artistic gymnastics squad is set to travel to Glasgow after completing a three-week training camp in London, as the team steps up preparations for the upcoming Commonwealth Games. The overseas camp has been designed to sharpen routines, enhance match readiness and provide valuable international exposure ahead of the multi-sport event.
The training camp, which began on June 29, has been funded by the Sports Authority of India under the Target Asian Games Group and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). Coaches believe the stint has given the gymnasts an opportunity to fine-tune their performances against high-quality training standards before arriving in Scotland.
The women’s squad features Olympian Pranati Nayak alongside Nishka Agarwal, Eshita Rewale and Protistha Samanta. The men’s team comprises Tapan Mohanty, Tapeshwarnath Das, Swatish KP and Yogeshwar Singh. Rakesh Patra is overseeing the men’s team, while Payal Bhattacharjee and Ashok Kumar Mishra are coaching the women’s squad.
Pranati, who claimed a silver medal in the vault event at the FIG World Challenge Cup in Tashkent earlier this year, is training separately in Odisha under coach Ashok Kumar Mishra and will join the Indian contingent directly in Glasgow.
“The camp has been very productive. The athletes are training well and the exposure has been beneficial ahead of a major event like the Commonwealth Games. We will travel directly to Glasgow from London,” men’s coach Rakesh Patra said.
India has won three gymnastics medals in Commonwealth Games history—Ashish Kumar secured a silver and a bronze at the 2010 Delhi Games, while Dipa Karmakar claimed a historic bronze in the women’s vault at Glasgow 2014. The current squad will be aiming to add to that tally when competition begins later this month.
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