In Indian sport, where cricketing heroes and badminton champions often dominate headlines, the story of Pranati Nayak is one that deserves far greater recognition.
Born in a small village in West Bengal, raised in modest circumstances, and fueled by an extraordinary determination, Pranati has risen to become one of India’s most consistent gymnasts on the international stage.
Her journey is not only about medals and milestones it is a powerful tale of perseverance, sacrifice, and unwavering belief. For a sport like gymnastics, which has limited visibility in India, Pranati’s rise ensures the discipline remains relevant and respected at the world level.
Humble Beginnings
Pranati was born on April 6, 1995, in Karkai village, West Midnapore, West Bengal. With her father employed as a bus driver and her mother a homemaker, financial struggles were a constant reality. Yet, her family stood firmly behind her ambitions. Her first interest was yoga, which she initially confused with gymnastics. That early fascination with physical movement became the foundation of a sporting career.
At just six years old, Pranati began formal gymnastics training. By 2003, she moved to Kolkata to access better facilities a critical turning point.
Here, she met her first coach Minara Begum, who not only mentored her but also supported her living expenses, recognizing her immense potential. Later, under Ashok Kumar Mishra, Pranati refined her craft further. These early sacrifices her own and her coaches’ paved the way for her ascent.
Breakthroughs on the International Stage
Pranati’s preferred discipline soon became the vault, an event demanding power, speed, and precision.
- 2019 Asian Championships, Mongolia: She clinched a bronze medal, becoming only the third Indian woman (after Dipa Karmakar and Aruna Reddy) to medal at this level. The same year, she was crowned national all-around champion, confirming her versatility.
- Tokyo 2020 Olympics (held in 2021): Her biggest career highlight came when she qualified via a continental quota, becoming only the second Indian woman gymnast to compete at the Olympics after Karmakar. Though the pandemic disrupted her training her centre was shut for nearly a year her Olympic appearance was symbolic of resilience and grit.
- 2025 resurgence: Pranati added to her legacy with a bronze medal at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Antalya, Turkey (March 2025), followed by another bronze at the Asian Championships in Jecheon, South Korea (June 2025). The Jecheon medal was her third Asian Championships bronze on vault.
Her Jecheon routines included a Tsukahara 720 Twist and a Handspring Pike Salto with a full twist. While a slightly imperfect landing cost her some points, her execution drew admiration from judges and peers alike.
All-Around Excellence
Though vault remains her signature event, Pranati has excelled as an all-around gymnast domestically:
- 2024 Senior Nationals, Bhubaneswar – Gold in vault, silver in balance beam.
- 2025 National Games – Four medals: gold in all-around, silver in vault, and bronzes in beam and team events.
Her consistency shows that she is far more than a single-event specialist she is one of the pillars of Indian gymnastics across disciplines.
Grit, Support, and Self-Belief
Pranati’s journey is inspiring because it is rooted in resilience. Coming from a small village, she lacked the advantages of peers from metropolitan centres with access to elite facilities. She depended on the generosity of her coaches and sheer determination to reach the top.
Today, she represents the Indian Railways, a job that provides financial stability. She trains at the High-Performance Centre in Bhubaneswar, focusing on strengthening her legs and improving landings. Coach Ashok Mishra has noted her newfound mental toughness and confidence, qualities that have sharpened her performances in recent years.
Pranati is also a natural communicator fluent in Bengali, Hindi, English, and Odia skills that have helped her adapt on the global circuit.
If Dipa Karmakar’s 2016 Rio Olympics vault put Indian gymnastics on the map, it is Pranati Nayak who has kept the flame alive. Her medals at World Cups and Asian Championships show that Indian gymnasts can consistently challenge traditional powerhouses like China, Japan, and Korea.
Looking ahead, Pranati has her sights set on the World Championships and the Asian Games, events where she has already proven she belongs among Asia’s elite.
For young athletes, her life is proof that origin does not define destiny. From a small village in West Bengal to the Olympic stage, Pranati Nayak embodies the spirit of Indian sport quiet resilience, relentless hard work, and the courage to dream big.
In her own way, she is not just India’s vault queen, but also a symbol of hope for every young gymnast chasing an impossible dream.
