Blurb: Ariha Pangambam turned previous disappointment into historic success, becoming India’s first Senior Women’s Individual Asian Aerobic Gymnastics champion after months of intense training and determination.
Manila
Indian aerobic gymnast Ariha Pangambam created history by becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal in the Senior Women’s Individual category at the Asian Aerobic Gymnastics Championships in the Philippines.
The 19-year-old secured the top position with a score of 19.100 points in the final, registering 8.650 in artistry, 7.600 in execution and 2.850 in difficulty.
For Ariha, the historic triumph was also a response to the disappointment she experienced at the previous edition of the Asian Championships, where she narrowly missed a podium finish after ending the competition in fourth place.
At that moment I was totally overwhelmed. This medal means a lot to me because I really wanted to have a medal not just for myself but for our whole country, Ariha told IANS.
The previous fourth-place finish remained a strong source of motivation throughout her preparation. Ariha said she constantly reminded herself that she needed to return to the competition and secure a medal.
However, her focus extended beyond simply winning. She wanted her performance to communicate her emotions and intentions to the judges and spectators.
I always wanted the people, whether the judges or the audience, to understand what I am trying to tell with my performance, she said.
Ariha revealed that she trained for around six hours every day, dividing her sessions between mornings and evenings.
She credited her coach and parents for supporting her journey and helping her reach the historic milestone.
Pointers
Details highlighting the gold medal
- Historic first: First Indian to win Senior Women’s Individual gold at the Asian Aerobic Gymnastics Championships.
- Winning score: 19.100 points in the final.
- Previous setback: Finished fourth at the previous Asian Championships.
- Training: Around six hours daily across morning and evening sessions.
- Key support: Credited her coach and parents for her success.