ManilaIndian aerobic gymnast Ariha Pangambam said her historic gold medal at the Asian Aerobic Gymnastics Championships was the result of her determination to improve after narrowly missing out on a medal in the previous edition. Ariha revealed that she trained for around six hours every day while preparing for the competition.
Ariha created history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a gold medal in the senior individual category at the Asian Championships. She scored 19.100 points in the final held in the Philippines, including 8.650 in artistry, 7.600 in execution and 2.850 in difficulty.
Speaking to IANS, Ariha said, “I was completely overwhelmed at that moment. This medal means a lot to me because I genuinely wanted to win a medal not just for myself, but for the country.”
She added, “At the previous Asian Championships, I finished fourth by just a few points. I had a lot of regrets. So, I always thought that next time I had to win a medal. Rather than simply focusing on winning a medal, as a performer, I always wanted people, whether judges or the audience, to understand what I wanted to express through my performance. I tried to bring that to the stage, and that is how I won the medal.”
Speaking about her training, the 19-year-old gymnast said, “I train for around six hours every day, in morning and evening sessions. And it is not just because of me. I would also say that it is because of my coach and my parents, because without them I would not have been able to achieve so much.”
Her gold medal marked a significant moment for Indian aerobic gymnastics, as the country won its first Asian Championship gold in the sport after 10 editions of the continental competition.
Inderjit Singh Rathore, head of the 50-member Indian delegation, described Ariha’s achievement as a major milestone for India.
Speaking to IANS, Rathore said, “This is a very big achievement because this is the 10th Asian Championship. It had never happened in gymnastics that our national anthem was played. We won a gold medal. It was a huge achievement for us.”
He added, “This historic achievement can also help increase awareness and participation in aerobic gymnastics. Compared to other sports, this sport is not very well known in India. Now, we expect to see significant growth in gymnastics. It is not yet a very popular sport, but when we achieve something like this, with a gold medal and major accomplishments, different children and parents become interested in taking up the sport. So, we see a great future for it.”
Speaking about Ariha, Rathore said, “We have been working on this for the last 10 years. She has been playing the sport from a very young age. Now she has reached the senior level. Her performance was excellent, and that is why she won the gold.”
India’s campaign at the championships also included a bronze medal in the senior Aero Step category.
