Pranati Nayak Wins Bronze in Vault Final at 2025 Asian Gymnastics Championships, Protistha Samanta Finishes 4th
India’s women gymnasts made a strong statement at the 12th Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships 2025 held in Jecheon, South Korea, as Pranati Nayak clinched a Bronze medal in the Senior Women’s Vault Final with a score of 13.466, while compatriot Protistha Samanta narrowly missed the podium, finishing 4th with 13.016.
The result marks yet another milestone in Pranati Nayak’s storied career, as the 28-year-old gymnast from Odisha earned her third medal at the Asian Championships, continuing to be one of the most consistent performers in Indian artistic gymnastics.
🇮🇳 A Career of Resilience and Determination
Trained at the AM/NS India Gymnastics High Performance Centre in Odisha, Pranati Nayak is no stranger to the Asian stage. Already a two-time medallist at previous editions of the Championships, she entered the 2025 competition with high expectations. Her vaults in the final were technically solid and executed with confidence, drawing scores of:
- 13.666 (D: 5.2, E: 8.466)
- 12.866 (D: 4.4, E: 8.466)
Averaging 13.466, her efforts were enough to secure a well-deserved bronze medal, behind China’s Zhang Yihan (13.650) and Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Quynh Nhu (13.583).
This medal reinforces Pranati’s place among Asia’s elite vaulters, showcasing not just her technical ability, but her longevity and mental fortitude—especially after years of carrying Indian women’s gymnastics on her shoulders.
Protistha Samanta Impresses with Career-Best 4th
For Protistha Samanta, the Championships were equally significant. The young gymnast, also from Odisha, delivered her best-ever result at a continental competition, finishing just outside the podium in 4th place with a score of 13.016. Her vaults:
- 12.766 (D: 4.4, E: 8.366)
- 13.266 (D: 4.0, E: 8.866)
Protistha’s performance marks a massive step forward in her senior career. She had already shown potential by qualifying to the Vault Final in 8th place, and her ability to raise her game in the final reflects both maturity and progress.
Historic Moment for Indian Women’s Gymnastics
India’s double qualification to the Vault Final—through Pranati and Protistha—was a significant achievement in itself. That both athletes went on to finish in the top four at one of Asia’s biggest gymnastics stages speaks volumes about the growing depth in Indian women’s gymnastics.
For Pranati Nayak, this is her third medal at the Asian Championships—making her the most decorated Indian female gymnast at the continental level. Her consistent performances over the years, including appearances at the Olympics and World Championships, have paved the way for a new generation of Indian gymnasts to dream big.
The Competition: Elite Vault Lineup
The Vault Final featured a high-quality field, including:
- Zhang Yihan (China) – Gold, 13.650
- Nguyen Thi Quynh Nhu (Vietnam) – Silver, 13.583
- Pranati Nayak (India) – Bronze, 13.466
- Protistha Samanta (India) – 4th, 13.016
- Ruecker Thantida-Sophia (Thailand) – 5th, 12.917
- Shakhnabonou Yusufova (Uzbekistan) – 6th, 12.883
- Evelina Yezhova (Kazakhstan) – 7th, 12.866
- Oksana Chusovitina (Uzbekistan) – 8th, 12.433
The field was notable for its diversity and pedigree, including legends like Chusovitina, the 48-year-old Uzbek gymnast and multiple-time Olympian, still competing at the elite level.
A Promising Path Ahead
This performance by Pranati and Protistha signals a strong upward trajectory for Indian women’s gymnastics. The results also highlight the importance of High Performance Centres like the Odisha AM/NS HPC, which are now producing gymnasts capable of challenging the continent’s best.
For Pranati, this medal reaffirms her enduring class, and for Protistha, it’s a powerful launching pad for future success. With the 2026 Asian Games and World Championships on the horizon, India now has multiple contenders to watch in vault and potentially other apparatus as well.
India Rising in Asian Gymnastics
With the foundation growing stronger, support systems improving, and athletes breaking barriers, Indian gymnastics is truly on the rise. Pranati Nayak’s bronze medal and Protistha Samanta’s close finish are not isolated successes—they are part of a larger narrative of progress, belief, and resilience.
Congratulations to both gymnasts—and here’s to many more podium finishes in the years to come.