Gymnastics in India made a significant breakthrough at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, when Ashish Kumar won the country’s first-ever medal in the sport, clinching a bronze. His coach highlighted the challenges faced during training, particularly the lack of proper equipment.
The sport’s journey in India gained further momentum at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. It was here that Dipa Karmakar from Tripura made history by winning a bronze medal in the Women’s Vault final. She stunned audiences with her remarkable performance of the Produnova vault, scoring an impressive 15.1.
5. Mantu Debnath
Hailing from Agartala, Tripura, Mantu Debnath made history in 1969 as the first Indian gymnast to win an international competition in Russia. A dominant figure in Indian gymnastics, he also claimed victory at the National Gymnastics Championship. In 1975, Mantu was awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award for his contributions to the sport, becoming the first Arjuna awardee from Tripura and the second Indian gymnast after Sham Lal to receive the honor. Mantu trained under the guidance of renowned athlete Dalip Singh.
4. Pranati Nayak
Pranati Nayak is an accomplished Indian artistic gymnast who earned a bronze medal in the vault event at the 2019 Asian Championships, becoming the third Indian gymnast to achieve an international vault medal, following Dipa Karmakar and Aruna Reddy. She also made history by becoming the second Indian female gymnast to qualify for the Summer Olympics, competing at the 2020 Tokyo Games. In addition to her remarkable achievements, Pranati was crowned the 2019 Indian all-around champion. She has represented India at multiple international events, including the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and World Championships.
3. Ashish Kumar
Ashish Kumar played a pivotal role in popularizing gymnastics in India and was instrumental in securing the country’s first-ever international medal in the sport. The Allahabad-born gymnast made his mark at the 2010 Commonwealth Games by winning two medals— a bronze in floor exercise and a silver in the men’s vault. His exceptional performance continued with another bronze at the 2010 Asian Games. Kumar, now a seasoned gymnast, also claimed a bronze at the 2006 Asian Championships, contributing significantly to India’s gymnastics legacy.
2. Aruna Reddy
Aruna Reddy made history in 2018 by becoming the first Indian gymnast to win a medal in an individual event at the Gymnastics World Cup. She clinched the bronze medal in the women’s vault, a remarkable achievement that marked the first time the Indian national anthem was played at the prestigious tournament. At the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Reddy competed in both individual and team events but was unable to replicate her World Cup success. She had previously competed in several World Championships, including those in 2013, 2014, and 2017, before her breakthrough performance in 2018.
1. Dipa Karmakar
Dipa Karmakar, born in Agartala, Tripura, rose to prominence as one of India’s most celebrated gymnasts. She made history at the 2014 Commonwealth Games by winning a bronze medal in the vault event. Karmakar’s career reached new heights in 2018 when she claimed gold at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup in Mersin, Turkey, and followed it up with a bronze at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Cottbus, Germany. In 2024, Karmakar made history once again by winning gold in the women’s vault at the Asian Gymnastics Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan— the first Indian gymnast to do so. Karmakar also became India’s first gymnast to compete at the 2016 Rio Olympics, further solidifying her place in gymnastics history.