Kale dominates the gymnastics competition with a high-five
Having won one gold medal in the previous day, Maharashtra’s teen gymnast Sanyukta Kale entered Ambala’s War Heroes Memorial Stadium arena in a positive state of mind with coach Mansi Surve by her side.
Coach Mansi knew if her 16-year-old trainee performed to her potential she could be winning more gold medals on the day.
Showing off her mettle during her first Khelo India Youth Games appearance in the U-18 women section, Kale bagged four more gold medals to walk away with as many as five gold medals in rhythmic gymnastics bolstering Maharashtra’s medal tally.
She was declared a winner in the rhythmic individual all round event, rhythmic individual apparatus-ball, rhythmic individual apparatus-clubs, rhythmic individual apparatus-hoop and rhythmic individual apparatus-ribbon.
“I was mentally prepared to give my best today. The coach was constantly egging me to perform to my strength and aim for the gold. That really helped and I was able to do well,” said Kale, who has been performing consistently well for Maharashtra in the recent years in the sub-junior and junior nationals.
A product of Phoenix Gymnastics Academy, run by former gymnasts Mansi Surve and Pooja Surve in Thane, Sanyukta took to rhythmic gymnastics when she was five. This academy has become a nursery for producing talented and skillful gymnasts. Maharashtra has been constantly winning medals in the gymnastics events in the several age-group nationals in the last decade.
Kale was the first Indian to compete in the Junior Asian Championship back in 2019 and she finished seventh in the rhythmic events.
“She was brilliant in that tournament; she scored over gymnasts from Japan and Uzbekistan. Apart from my sister Pooja who represented India in the Commonwealth Games 2010 in the rhythmic events, nobody else has represented India at international level. I feel Sanyukta can shine for India at international level and win many medals,” added coach Mansi.
Next up for Kale is the Asian Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship, scheduled to be held at Pattaya in Thailand from June 23 to 26.
“I have been working hard on my skills and fitness along with temperament. I am confident of delivering the goods and winning a medal for my country. It will be my first international event in the senior category as well,” said Kale who has also set her eyes on upcoming Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
“I am in the probables list for the Commonwealth Games. I hope to get a spot in the team and represent India in such a mega-event. Also competing in Olympics remains the ultimate dream,” Kale added.
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