Amritsar's Priti Shines Bright: Gold Medals and International Glory in Rhythmic Gymnastics
She also represented India at the 16th Senior Rhythmic Gymnastics Asian Championship in Singapore.
Amritsar’s Priti Shines Bright: Gold Medals and International Glory in Rhythmic Gymnastics
Priti's story creates hope for many young athletes in Punjab and beyond. She is 20 years old from Amritsar; she has faced financial hardships at home, as her father works as a cook and is the sole breadwinner for a family of eight, but despite these struggles, she has made a place for herself with grit, grace, and her hard work.
Her journey began in Class VI, when she got selected by the Punjab State Institute for Sports (PIS) during trials in Jalandhar in 2016–17. She started rigorous training under the guidance of coach Neetu Bala, who is a former international gymnast at Khalsa College Public School.
From her early steps on the mat to dominating national and international fields, this year, Priti achieved a milestone by clinching a gold medal in a group event and five bronze medals across the all-rounder, hoop, ball, clubs, and ribbon categories at the Third Dubai International Rhythmic Gymnastics Cup. She also represented India at the 16th Senior Rhythmic Gymnastics Asian Championship in Singapore.
On the home front too, she has many achievements at national-level tournaments, including inter-university meets; she has won a total of three gold medals along with one silver and one bronze. Her golds came in the all-around, team and clubs events; she clinched silver in ball and bronze in ribbon.
Along with winning medals, her story is about family, sacrifice and hope. With three brothers and two sisters, and only one earning member, her father, she belongs to a family of eight. Her elder sisters, Mannat and Mausam, encouraged her to pursue gymnastics after watching a school-level girls’ team performance. Her father even took loans to fund her training and international trips. Meanwhile, Priti is also pursuing a bachelor's in physical education, and she aspires to secure a government job to support her family financially.
Priti aspires for a spot at the Olympic Games in 2028 and the Commonwealth Games in 2030. Her journey, from a small home in Amritsar with limited resources to the global gymnastics stage, stands as a story of pride and inspiration for many.