Three gymnasts from the Odisha AM/NS India High-Performance Centre (GHPC) in Bhubaneswar are gearing up to compete in the Federation Internationale De Gymnastique (FIG) World Challenge Cup 2023, taking place in Szombathely, Hungary from September 8-10, 2023. Rakesh Kumar Patra and Saif Sadik Tamboli will represent India in the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Category (Senior), while Pranati Nayak will compete in the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Category (Senior). These athletes were selected through rigorous trials organized by the Gymnastics Federation of India. They will be accompanied by their chief coach, Ashok Mishra, and physiotherapist Amrita Tripathi. Expressing her excitement, Pranati Nayak stated, “I am super excited for my performance at the FIG World Challenge Cup 2023. I have been training at the Odisha AM/NS Gymnastics High-Performance Centre for the tournament and aim to give my best to secure medals for the country.”

ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India), a joint venture between ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel, has collaborated with the Government of Odisha to promote gymnastics in India and establish Odisha as a leading gymnastics excellence hub. The ‘Odisha AM/NS India Gymnastics High-Performance Centre’ at Kalinga Stadium focuses on senior athletes participating in the ‘Elite Senior Gymnastics Programme’. Additionally, there are three ‘Odisha AM/NS India Gymnastics Academies’ in Puri, Jeypore, and Rourkela, catering to grassroots-level athletes. These initiatives operate under AM/NS India’s CSR initiative ‘Udaan’ and aim to train 360 sportspeople annually with world-class coaching from international and national gymnastics coaches. The athletes will benefit from international and national exposure, as well as academic support.