Odisha AM/NS India gymnasts win four golds at CBSE national championship in Pune

Young gymnasts of Odisha AM/NS India performed well at the CBSE National Gymnastics Championship 2026 in Pune, Maharashtra. Thirteen athletes from the Bhubaneswar Gymnastics High Performance Centre and the Rourkela grassroots centre took part among more than 350 competitors from across the country. They competed for different schools.

In the under-17 girls' category, Preeti Jhankar won two gold medals, finishing first in both the all-around and the balance beam. Among under-11 girls, Rose Minjhi also won gold in the all-around and the balance beam. She took silver in the floor exercise.

In the under-14 category, Soumyashree Priyadarshini won silver in the balance beam and bronze in the vault. Subhidita Bag, in the same category, won two silver medals, in the uneven bars and the vault. Pranabjain Mahala of the Rourkela grassroots centre won bronze in the parallel bars among under-11 boys.

Jasmine Praharaj also competed among under-14 girls. The athletes from the Rourkela grassroots centre were taking part in a national-level event for the first time. From this centre, Adwin Nag and Pranabjain Mahala competed among under-11 boys. Adrisha Kothari competed among under-14 girls. Priya Badaik, Rimjhim Sil, Pankuri Sil, Adyasha Patra and Bidyanka Behera took part among under-11 girls.

Ashutosh Telang, director of AM/NS India and vice-president for human resources and administration, congratulated the athletes. He said: "Our athletes' success at the CBSE National Gymnastics Championship 2026 is a matter of pride. It reflects their hard work, dedication to the sport, discipline and determination. It is gratifying that the athletes of the Rourkela grassroots centre proved their ability in their very first national tournament. The athletes of the High Performance Centre, meanwhile, have shown the quality of their training and skill through their medals. AM/NS India is continuously trying to promote new sporting talent and to give athletes the facilities and guidance they need, from early training to high-level performance."

ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) has partnered with the Odisha government to promote gymnastics in India and make Odisha a major centre for the sport. The Odisha AM/NS India Gymnastics High Performance Centre at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar began in 2023. Three grassroots centres are also running in the state.