I know I will get a medal if I’m able to give my best, says gymnast Rakesh Patra
Indian gymnast Rakesh Patra is highly optimistic about bagging the elusive medal on the big stage after he was included in the gymnastics contingent for the upcoming 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Patra’s name was included in the squad after he filed a written petition in the Delhi HC.
After initial struggles and numerous setbacks en route to the 26-year old's journey to the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Patra has finally found himself in the gymnastics contingent that will travel to Australia. He had always been a strong performer at global competitions but has never managed to bag a medal to back his strong performances.
The rings and parallel bars specialist made the finals in both the events of last month’s World Cup in Melbourne. It included a fourth-place finish in rings, behind his opponents from Japan and China who will not participate in Gold Coast, something that has fuelled his dreams of a coveted medal.
“I’m not going there setting my eyes on the medal. I know I will get a medal if I’m able to give my best show on the given day. I’m slowly reaching perfection. I’ve about 20 days left and I hope for a perfect outing in the CWG. I will face strong opposition from England and Canada,” said Patra in an interview to PTI.
Patra, sponsored by the GoSports foundation, recently went for a 20-day strengthening stint in China last year and returned earlier this year with three gold medals from an invitational event in Hong Kong. Patra has not been to his hometown for more than a year now and has been hoping all his training to bear fruit in the upcoming years.
“I wanted to go there to dump my father’s cycle and gift a scooter to my father. But he rejected my suggestions, and told me ‘first win a medal and then come’. I cannot let all their hardships go in vain,” he said.
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