Age has no barrier for Shraddha

At the age of 29, the Krida Prabhodhini gymnast is still enjoying the medal hauls

- MILIND DHAMDHERE

Gymnastics is a sport that tastes flexibility, stretching, speed and agility to achieve the highest level of success. After that, it is suggested that these players should retire from the competitive game. But Shraddha Talekar, an athlete from Krida Prabodhini, Pune, has shown that even at the age of 29 years, she can still perform at her best by winning medals at the state and national level even after the age of twenty years.

Shraddha has bagged the overall best women's player at the recently concluded state mini Olympics games at Pune with five gold medals. She has been consistent in winning a galore of medals during the past five years at state as well as national level championships. She has around 30 medals, including eight gold at the national level in her kitty. She has represented India in a few international-level events.

Shraddha, a Shiv Chhatrapati award winner, speaks about her overall career in Gymnastics and future plans.

Important to have parental support

"I am from a joint family situated at the village Pedali, Post Tiware in Raigad district. Though my father's occupation is farming, there was no limitation on me from choosing a career in a specific sector. My mother's brother was a cricketer, while my mother's sister participated in gymnastics. Naturally, I was inclined toward sports. In 2002, I participated in the summer camp of gymnastics in Thane. At that time, I was not familiar with the various apparatus of gymnastics. However, I was able to show good skill in basic requirements for gymnastics like stretching, strength etc. Coaches Tanuja Gadhave and Balasaheb Dhavale of this camp urged my parents to put me in their academy. Since there were my relatives in Thane, my parents immediately gave me a green signal. I learnt a lot at this academy for four years until my selection for Krida Prabodhini of Balewadi," said Shraddha.

Success after a long time