VIJAYAWADA: 16-year-old girl Garikapati Ananya, hailing from Pedana in Krishna district, excels in rhythmic gymnastics, which has few coaches in the country.
She learned rhythmic gymnastics through YouTube when she was 6-years-old.
Ananya showed her talent in international stages at London Spring Cup Tourney of International Rhythmic Gymnastics in 2016 and bagged three bronze medals, one all-round bronze medal and a Miss Hope Trophy in the same tourney.
Ananya bagged a bronze in DuGym Cup International Rhythmic Gymnastics in 2016. In 2017, she won all-round silver medal, two apparatus silver medals, Miss Emotion Crown at Kamolot Cup held at Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
She further showed her talent and won an Apparatus bronze medal at Emirates Cup, Dubai, in 2017.
Continuing her journey, she bagged the third place in Ball category, 4th place in Clubs and special prize at Moscow, Russia, in 2018.
In 2019, an All-round Gold medal and Special Prize were credited to her account in Junior Star International Rhythmic Gymnastics held at Moscow, Russia.
She also excelled at Salyut Cup International Rhythmic Gymnastics. She bagged all-round silver medal and Miss Championship title and special prize this year. She also won special prize for artistry and brilliant apparatus, handling Novogorsk stars International Rhythmic Gymnastics.
Ananya’s parents Garikapati Sridhar and Dr Padmaja supported her in every moment.
Ananya had been given training by 2008 Olympic champion Anna Gavrilenko while in Moscow. She also trained under 2010 Commonwealth champion Nazmi Johnston in London.
Speaking to this newspaer, Ananya’s mother Dr Padmaja said that Ananya faced shortage of coaches which is the major backdrop of rhythmic gymnastics in India and she has been directed by a few artistic coaches like P. Ravindra of SAI in Hyderabad and N. Suresh from Kakinada.
But to perform on the international stage, there is the need for expert training and that is a too costly affair, she added.
Her father Sridhar said that Ananya has been nominated for Sakshi Young Achiever’s Awards. She will be receiving it on August 10.
Speaking to DC, Ananya said that winning a medal in Olympics is her dream and now she is practicing for the School and National Games to be held in November and next January and also is concentrating to bag a medal at Asia Gymnastics Championship.
