The journey to the 2016 Rio Olympics was an unforgettable experience. The support I received from the then Sports Authority of India (SAI) Director General Injeti Srinivas during the pre-Olympics phase was instrumental. With limited equipment in my hometown of Agartala, I was fortunate to train in Delhi, where new equipment was purchased specifically for me. Even today, that same equipment is used by gymnasts for training.
After qualifying for the Olympics, my focus shifted to intense training under the guidance of my coach, Bishweshwar Nandi sir. Stepping into the Games Village felt like a dream. Initially, navigating the village to find the Indian contingent was a challenge. After locating them, I first met our hockey team players. The atmosphere was electric, a completely different experience. But I remained focused on training, with my initial goal set on qualifying for the vault final.
Reaching that stage was a momentous achievement, as I was the first Indian to accomplish it. There was no one to learn from, no prior experience to draw upon. Between the qualification and the final, there was a seven-day gap, which I used to explore the Games Village. One afternoon, I spotted a familiar face at a McDonald’s inside the village – sprint superstar Usain Bolt. His height was truly impressive! Unfortunately, I didn’t have a mobile phone to capture the moment, but seeing him there was exhilarating.
In the final, I gave it my all and was pleased with the points I earned, finishing fourth. My goal was to exceed 15 points, and I achieved that with a score of 15.066. However, I was disappointed to miss out on a medal by a narrow margin. Upon returning to the Games Village, many people, including our chef-de-mission, Rakesh Gupta, praised my performance. They commended my efforts and compared my performance to legends like P.T. Usha and Milkha Singh, which filled me with pride.
During my return journey, I assumed we would need to find a taxi from the airport, expecting no grand reception. But my coach, Nandi sir, simply said, “You have no idea what’s happening in India.” I was overwhelmed by the grand welcome and felicitation at the Vivekananda Maidan, attended by then Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and Sports Minister Sahid Chowdhury. It was a spectacle I had never witnessed in Agartala, surpassing even Independence Day or Republic Day celebrations.
The awards and honors I received were significant, but nothing compared to the recognition Tripura and gymnastics gained after my performance in Rio. It ignited a passion for gymnastics in young people, inspiring them to take up the sport. Numerous gymnastics centers, both public and private, sprang up across the country. The gymnastics center in Agartala became operational with the latest equipment and a foam pit, providing a space for aspiring athletes to train.
This journey, with its triumphs and challenges, has been a shared achievement, a testament to the teacher-student bond and the transformative power of sport. It’s a story that resonates with the spirit of determination and the impact of a single athlete on the future of a sport.
