Daijiworld Media Network - Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, May 24: Indian gymnast and Odisha’s star athlete Pranati Nayak clinched a silver medal in the vault event at the FIG World Challenge Cup 2026 held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, marking another significant milestone in her international career.

Delivering a strong performance against a competitive global field, Pranati scored 13.025 in the vault final to secure a podium finish, further strengthening India’s presence in international gymnastics.

The 31-year-old, who has previously won bronze medals in vault at the Asian Championships in 2019, 2022 and 2025, continues to be one of India’s most consistent performers on the international stage. She is among only a few Indian women gymnasts to have won medals at major global competitions, alongside pioneers such as Dipa Karmakar and Aruna Reddy.

Officials from the Odisha Gymnastics Association praised her achievement, calling it a reflection of her dedication, discipline and sustained excellence in the sport. They also highlighted that her success underscores the growing strength of gymnastics in Odisha and India as a whole.

Chief coach Ashok Mishra said Pranati’s performance is an inspiring moment for Indian gymnastics and credited her consistency as an example for young athletes aspiring to compete internationally.

Association secretary Ashok Sahoo also described the medal as a proud moment for both Odisha and India, noting that it reflects the increasing global competitiveness of Indian gymnasts.

Pranati Nayak’s latest achievement adds to her growing list of international successes and further boosts India’s profile in artistic gymnastics on the world stage.