Another first for promising Meghana Reddy

The city rhythmic gymnast girl topped the Indian trials for the World University Games, scheduled to be held in Chengdu, China, in August this year

Hyderabad: Gundlapally Meghana Reddy is making impressive strides in rhythmic gymnastics. The 21-year-old Hyderabad gymnast topped the Indian trials for the World University Games, scheduled to be held in Chengdu, China, in August this year. Conducted by Guru Nanak University, Amritsar recently, this will be the first time that gymnastics squad shall be sent to for the University Games.

Meghana fought all the odds in Amritsar where the weather was too cold for her comfort. However, by reaching that Amritsar 15 days ahead of the competition, helped her to acclimatize the cold conditions before topping the honours.

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For Meghana, it is another yet first as Indian rhythmic gymnast. Two years ago she became the first Indian to qualify for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia and last year in January, Meghana bagged a gold in the Fifth Friendly International Tournament which concluded at Del Mare, Italy on January 18.Representing her club Routine, Meghana even recorded her highest ever score for India. Ranked as number one rhythmic gymnast in the country, she bagged a bronze in Hoop in the same tournament.

The promising gymnast’s plans were derailed by the unexpected Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown. It was a tough period as she had to be confined to her house. But she remained positive and later on as the lockdown restrictions were eased, she continued her routine exercise at Gaudium Sportopia which was beneficial to Meghana. Incidentally during the lockdown she was part of the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Challenge on Instagram where 108 gymnasts took part from 52 countries. “It is important to be positive in adverse conditions,’’ she said. She even learned a few new things.

In the lockdown phase, this Hyderabad girl was training online with international coach Tatiana Kozadaeva and Indian coach Manoj Rana. Getting attracted to gymnastics after the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Meghana chose Rhythmic gymnastics as she thought it was a different challenge. Father Ramalinga Reddy, a HR professional, said his daughter loved challenges. “There were no facilities for rhythmic gymnastics in India and I had to send her to the USA and England. It was expensive but we decided to give the best facilities to her. She has not disappointed since taking the sport seriously. She worked hard for her success. I’m very happy with her progress,’’ said Reddy.

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