A leap of faith | Sports | wavemag.com.np

DEEPESH SHRESTHA

When 14-year-old Pinky Jhang decided to take up gymnastics three years ago, she knew very little about the sport. Even now, she still doesn't know the names of any international gymnasts. Inspired by her mother who had watched competitions on television and loved the grace of the sport, Pinky began training with instructors from the Nepal Gymnastics Association, and soon revealed herself to be a natural gymnast. This young sportswoman won three gold medals at the National Open Gymnastics Championship this month.

The championships, held on 2-3 October in Tripureshwor, Kathmandu, were the first of their kind to be held in Nepal. With 130 participants from 16 districts and the Army Club, the event has provided a ray of hope to Nepali gymnasts, who have long suffered neglect a lack of recognition and support.

Although as spectators Nepal took part in the 1978 Asiad (Asian Games) held in Bangkok, they officially competed for the first time in the 1982 Asian Games, held in New Delhi. The current Chief Coach of the Nepal Gymnastics Association, Rajeshwor Man Sthapit's stellar performance won him two bronzes in the 1992 SAF Championship held in Allahabad, India. He also went to achieve fourth position under the overall category in 1992 at the Asian Championship held in New Delhi, which he recalls as being dominated by the Asian gymnastics powerhouses: that is, China, Korea, Malaysia, Japan and Singapore.

Pinky Jhang won the Female Champion title during this year's competition. Raju Rai won the male category awards and Aman Tamang was crowned Overall Champion.

"The competition has made it easy for us to gauge the quality of sportsmanship in the country, and will help us plan a strategy for the future," said Nepal Gymnastic Association's Nabin Upreti. He noted that the Association was pleased with the coverage the competition has received, which will help the Association's intention of creating a long-term strategy to attract more gymnasts and attention to the sport.

While gymnastics is an accessible sport for children in the West, lessons are not easy to find in Nepal. Young people in Nepal only had the opportunity to watch the sport on television, ideas of representing their nation by performing on parallel bars, vaults and the floor balance beam but a distant dream. Apart from a few schools that have such facilities, only Nepal Gymnastics Association has the provisions for training young enthusiasts. "But this competition has made both coaches and participants excited about the future of gymnastics," said Chief Coach Sthapit.

Such events and encouragement will be necessary to keep gymnasts like Pinky Jhang going. "I don't know any international pros, I don't have any idols," she said. "But I like the sport and would like to keep on doing it."