CWG 2018 | Pranati Nayak aiming to emulate her inspiration Dipa Karmakar

Dipa Karmakar’s performance was one of the highlights in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Her outstanding display had brought accolades from all over the country, although she missed out on an Olympic medal by a whisker as she finished fourth. However, while an Olympics medal still evade her, she is quite acquainted with success in Commonwealth Games after she had won a historic bronze medal in its 2014 edition. 

Pranati, who is a part of three-member women's gymnastics contingent, also said that the focus was on securing a place in the final. 

Pranati left home as an eight-year-old and recollected her childhood days, stating how grateful she has been to her coach for helping her out in tough times. 

“I was too small to be allotted a hostel. My father and mother used to come and stay with me in rotation, leaving my little sister at home... For weeks we slept on the floor at the Saltlake Stadium. I got a hostel on the insistence of my coach Minara madam. Whatever I'm now it's because of Minara madam,” Pranati recalled. 

“I got about Rs 12 lakh in rewards and gave the money to my father to build a house... He broke down in tears, and cried like a kid! He told me 'I don't have any regret of not having a son now. My three daughters are like my three pillars'. Those were the words of confidence that kept me going,” Pranati said.