Won't give false hopes: CWG Rhythmic Gymnastics coach

Look out for these rhythmic gymnastsu00a0-- Pooja Surve (20), Kshipra Joshi (15) and Akshata Shete (19).

They may not get a gold medal for India at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games, but could do well enough to impress their superior opponents.


India's rhythmic gymnasts (right to left) Pooja Surve, Akshata Shete
and Kshipra Joshi with coach Varsha Upadhyay (second from left).
Pic/Shadab Khan

The trio will also represent India at the World Championships.

Coach Varsha Upadhyay told MiD DAY yesterday: "I am coaching these three gymnasts for the last three years and have full confidence that they will perform well in the forthcoming CWG. In the last CWG, the Indians got six points in gymnastics.

"But I won't give Indians false hopes by saying these girls will come up with a medal. I want them to give off their best and try to make it in the top eight. Australia and Canada are the top contenders."

Upadhyay spoke about the disadvantage Indians have in this sport. "Our girls are trained from the age of ten while in China, Australia and USA girls are trained from the age of four. We don't even have proper sporting equipment to train our players. That's why we fall behind in every sport except cricket," she said.

Is there a dope danger? "Our girls are pure. We consult our doctor before taking any medicine and avoid going to any other doctor," the coach concluded.