Pranati Nayak keeps India’s gymnastics hopes alive as she reaches Asian Games final

ByTech Word News

India’s only gymnast at the 2026 Asian Games, Pranati Nayak kept the country’s hopes alive in artistic gymnastics by qualifying for the women’s vault final in seventh place in the qualification round in Aichi-Nagoya on Tuesday.

The 31-year-old three-time bronze medalist at the Asian Gymnastics Championships combined for a score of 12.916 from her two vaults to book her place in the finals on September 24. The eight best gymnasts in the qualification advanced to the medal round.

Asian Games 2026 September 2022 Highlights

Nayak started strong with a score of 13,000 on her first vault, earning 4,400 for difficulty and 8,600 for execution. She followed with a 12.433 on her second attempt at a difficulty 4.000 and an 8.433 execution. Her average of 12.716 was supplemented by a .200 bonus listed in the results, giving her a final qualifying mark of 12.916.

YEO LEADS VAULT FINAL FIELD

South Korea’s Seojeong Yeo topped the qualifying order with 14.466, scoring 14.300 and 14.233 on her two vaults. North Korea’s An Chang Ok, the reigning Asian Games champion, was second with 13.900 after scores of 14.000 and 13.400. Courtesy: Asian Games

China’s Du Siyu finished third with 13.433, while Uzbekistan veteran Oksana Chusovitina, competing at other major Asian Games, was fourth with 13.266. Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Quynh Nhu took fifth place with 13.199, followed by Malaysia’s Yeap Kang Xian with 13.049.

Nayak completed the top seven, while Marissa Zaiful Azian of Malaysia took the eighth and final qualifying spot with 12.849.

WOMEN’S QUALIFIER FINALS:

  • Seojeong Yeo (South Korea) — 14,466
  • An Chang Ok (North Korea) – 13,900
  • Du Siyu (China) – 13,433
  • Oksana Chusovitina (Uzbekistan) — 13,266
  • Nguyen Thi Quynh Nhu (Vietnam) — 13,199
  • Yeap Kang Xian (Malaysia) – 13,049
  • Pranati Nayak (India) — 12,916
  • Marissa Zaiful Azian (Malaysia) — 12,849

Nayak’s qualification comes after she won silver in the women’s vault at the 2026 FIG World Challenge Cup in Tashkent, where she averaged 13.025 in the final.

The vault final is scheduled for September 24, the results from the qualification do not carry over to the medal round.

– The end

Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

22 Sep 2026 18:44 IST