When B. Aruna Reddy was a child, she didn’t really enjoy gymnastics — it was too much pressure and she missed having a normal childhood.
But after playing the sport for more than 15 years, it is something the 20-year-old cannot live without. The final year B.Com student at St Mary’s College set foot into gymnastics when she was just five years old and has won several sub-junior, junior and senior national-level championships so far. She recently won three gold, one silver and one bronze medal at different events in the All India Inter University Gymnastics Competition that was held in Chandigarh this month. Aruna trains with her coach Brij Kishore at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium. Gymnastics is one of the most extraordinary sports to watch, but also very challenging. Aruna recalls, “I first started off with Karate — I’m a brown belt. Looking at my flexibility and strength, my father and Karate master then encouraged me to take up gymnastics. I wasn’t interested for almost two years, but after I won national-level competitions, I took it more seriously. I wouldn’t be here without my father and his constant encouragement.”
However, being a successful athlete is just not enough. “People are more encouraging after Dipa Karmakar’s stint at the Olympics, but the government must provide more support. My college has been very supportive. I attend college only during exams,” says Aruna.
With plans to win gold at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships, Aruna is currently concentrating on her final exams. “My sister is helping me with my studies — she teaches me every day after my training. After I finish my graduation, I want to take up gymnastics full-time,” she says.
