No one talks about us unless we win a medal, says Manipur’s Ariha Pangambam after historic gold in aerobic gymnastics
A Historic Triumph for Manipur's Ariha Pangambam in Aerobic Gymnastics
Bharatmorningnews.com – Friday marked a milestone moment for Indian sports as Ariha Pangambam secured the nation's first senior women's individual gold at the Aerobic Gymnastics Asian Championships, held in the Philippines. The 22-year-old athlete hails from Khongman Zone in Imphal, Manipur, and described the experience as both overwhelming and deeply meaningful.
Reflecting on her emotional journey, Ariha shared:
I missed out on a medal at the 2024 edition, so I told my parents that come what may, I would win one next time. Winning gold hasn’t even sunk in yet. What makes it extra special is that it comes days ahead of Independence Day. Standing on the podium with the national anthem playing, tears were rolling down my eyes.
Overcoming Training Challenges
Her path to victory was not without obstacles. Ariha revealed that anxiety plagued her the evening before the competition due to limited training opportunities on the proper surface. She explained:
The day before the competition, I was panicking. In India, there is only one proper aerobic gymnastics floor—in Uttarakhand—so we don’t get to train on the actual competition surface, which is wooden with double flex. I kept slipping on elements I was usually most confident about and couldn’t sleep that night. But right before stepping out on competition day, I thought about my parents, my coaches, and their endless support and then nothing could stop me.
A Passion Born from Music and Dance
Ariha's connection to aerobic gymnastics began in childhood through her love for music and dance. However, she faced a dilemma early on because Manipur's sole training facility focused on artistic gymnastics at the time. Her transition occurred in 2015, when she committed fully to aerobic gymnastics.
I loved music and dance as a child and fell in love with aerobic gymnastics, but Manipur’s only training centre offered artistic gymnastics back then. I finally switched to aerobic gymnastics in 2015, and it became my whole world. Balancing that with school was tough, which is why I owe everything to my parents. They worked their jobs, managed my daily schedule, and ensured I was eating and sleeping well just so I could live a moment like this.
Calling for Greater Recognition
Despite her remarkable achievement, Ariha highlighted the challenges faced by athletes in niche sports across India. She emphasized that visibility often depends on medal success rather than consistent effort.
Athletes from lesser-known sports in India only get recognition when we win major medals—otherwise, no one cares to know us. But we have immense potential that just needs encouragement. If we want to compete globally, we must first build strong grassroots competition at home, starting at the school level to inspire young kids to take up the sport.
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