Pranati Nayak refuses to let injuries define her, ready for the challenge of the Asian Games

For Pranati Nayak, the road to the next Asian Games once again led through the familiar territory of injury, rehabilitation and a long wait to feel like herself again. Still, as she prepares to make her fourth appearance at the continental show, the 31-year-old Indian gymnast refuses to let these setbacks become the defining story of her career.

Nayak, the only Indian gymnast selected for the Asian Games, left for Japan’s Aichi-Nagoya on Wednesday night carrying an ambition that remained unfulfilled despite three previous appearances, an Asian Games medal.

This year’s preparations have been shaped by plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the foot that plagued her during the season and contributed to her missing the women’s vault final at the Commonwealth Games. But Nayak believes that this difficult phase is over.

“I am 100 percent fit now. Injury is a part of a gymnast’s life. A gymnast has a lot of injuries. We have to take care of them,” she told PTI.

The challenge wasn’t just physical. For a gymnast, returning from injury also means regaining confidence in movements that once came naturally, especially when attempting high-difficulty vaults.

“It’s very tough. It takes a long time to recover. I had to face a lot of problems after that injury. But I never gave up. I will try to give 100 percent in the upcoming competition,” said Nayak.

FROM Slumps to a sharp comeback

Nayak already experienced a significant setback in 2025 when she suffered a grade 2 ankle ligament tear. Her recovery eventually reminded her of her ability to compete at the highest level, with the Midnapore gymnast winning a silver medal at the FIG World Challenge Cup in Tashkent in May this year.

However, her Commonwealth Games experience taught another lesson. Nayak insists her failure in Glasgow was not due to injury, but admits how difficult it was to overcome the disappointment.

“I made a mistake in the run (in Glasgow) but it wasn’t due to injury. After coming back from the Commonwealth Games I focused on perfection, landing and flexibility. I made a running mistake.”

“I can’t do anything about it now. It was a very difficult phase for me. Now I’m ready and focused,” she added.

The comeback also included considerable attention to the mental side of gymnastics. Nayak consulted psychologists and worked to keep her focus on the routine rather than the pressure of the competition.

“I’ve worked with a lot of psychologists. They say you should focus on what you’re doing. If you mean it well, it’ll be good. You should train your mind. Even if I can’t train much, I can always repeat the drill in my mind,” she said.

ANOTHER ASIAN GAMES, ANOTHER CHANCE IN HISTORY

Nayak arrives in Japan with an impressive collection of continental and international medals. She is the first Indian gymnast to win three medals from the Asian Championships, while her bronze medals from the 2024 Cairo and 2025 Antalya World Championships underline her longevity at the international level.

However, medals from the Asian Games are conspicuously absent.

She knows the task ahead will be tough, especially with top gymnasts from across Asia in the field.

“The Asian Games will be very tough. All the top gymnasts and a lot of Olympic medalists will participate. I have seen them qualify for the Asian Games,” said Nayak.

Her high-difficulty Tsukahara 720 remains an option, but the immediate focus is on execution and pure performance. Nayak herself is keeping the decision open, choosing to evaluate her landings and jumps before deciding how far she should push the difficulty.

“My competition is with myself, so I’ll try to do my best. I’ll see how I do and how I jump, and then I’ll decide which jump to go for,” she said.

At 31, Nayak is also looking beyond Nagoya, with another Olympic appearance in Los Angeles still part of her ambitions. But for now, he’s focused on extending a career that has repeatedly required patience, resilience and the ability to start over. Her fourth Asian Games offers another opportunity to turn that perseverance into a medal.

– The end

Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

17 Sep 2026 13:34 IST