Ananya Garikipati becomes first Indian rhythmic gymnast to win gold, silver medals in Moscow
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16-year-old Ananya Garikipati had a terrific outing in Moscow in the two-week long gymnastic competitions as she raised the Indian flag in Moscow by winning a gold and a silver medal. While she won the gold for her all-round performance, the silver medal was for Miss Championship title in Salut Cup.
Garikipati was also awarded the special prizes for her excellent routines and brilliant apparatus handling in in the Junior Star Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship, which was awarded from the organisers and sponsors at the worldâs best rhythmic gymnastics of Irina Viner Usmanova.Â
And quite uniquely, it was the only special prize given in the competition which was for being brave enough to compete against some of the worldâs best. Ananyaâs mother sounded ecstatic with the achievement.
âThe best thing about our trip is that Ananya turned 16 during one of the tournaments. Initially, she was not happy about competing on her birthday but it turned out to be the sweetest 16th birthday. To receive a special prize on her birthday made it the most memorable,â said her mother Dr Padmaja, reported ToI.Â
When Ananya is in Moscow she is trained by 2008 Olympic champion Anna Gavrilenko. âThe training is extremely hard but fruitful at the end. She is really blessed to be trained by an extremely humble Olympic champion,â Padmaja, whose daughter is a Grade XI student of Ganges Valley School.
âAnanya was praised for her artistry (beauty and elegance in her routines). The impressed Olympic champion had asked Ananya who made her routines. Ananya said she did them on her own as she didnât have a rhythmic coach in India. This took the Russian by surprised as the gymnasts take the help of their coaches and choreographers to compose the routines. I am thrilled to bits as Ananya has such a creative streak in her,â Padmaja added.
