Gymnastics in India: Did you know these facts

Source: Internet

Acrobatic,  Aerobics and Rhythmic Gymnastics in Indian Reality Dance Competition Shows

Reality dance shows like Super Dancer, Dance India Dance, Jhalak Dikhlaja have gained immense popularity. Sometimes, there are performances involving ropes, hoops, ribbons and lifts, which leave us dumbstruck. These performances are actually involving different types of gymnastic methods.

  1. Acrobatics also called sports acrobatics: In this, gymnasts work together and perform figures consisting of acrobatic moves, dance and tumbling, on some music. Balance, body flexibility and dynamics are tested in this technique. Various positions included in this form are: Somersault, throws and catches.
  2. Rhythmic Gymnastics: It combines ballet, gymnastics, dance and apparatus manipulation. Apparatus here include: rope, hoops, balls, ribbon, club and freehand(no apparatus). This form is most common observed in dance shows. Jumps and leaps are also included in this form, their complexity depending on athlete’s level.  In Malang and Kamli song of Dhoom3 movie, Aamir Khan and Katrina Kaif are seen performing this technique.
  3. Aerobic Gymnastics, also called sports aerobics: This form is combination of aerobics, acrobatic, rhythmic and artistic gymnastics. Here, gymnast perform complex, high intensity movement patterns on music. It combines dance, music, choreography in singular performance. 

Gymnastics as professional sport for Children

My two year old son loves to somersault and wide leg stretching, which made me wonder whether i should enroll him in Gymnastic classes. I was quite fascinated about body flexibility of gymnasts initially. On research, I found that there are multiple side-effects of gymnastics as serious sport on children. For professional Gymnasts may face problem like stress fractures, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, chronic back pain, once they have quit the sports. Also for women gymnasts, stress on body during pregnancy may increase chances of bone and joint problems.

Though, occasional classes like once a week or few hours of training are fine. Should parents encourage their children for gymnastics as sport? In today’s scenario when sports awareness is increasing and parents are realizing importance of sports in daily life of their children, this question is worth asking.

Heartbreaking condition of Gymnastics In India

Ashish Kumar and Dipa Karmakar won medals for first time in Commonwealth Games 2010 and 2014 respectively and Dipa even gave outstanding performance in Rio Olympics 2016. I had thought that Gymnastics as a sport is rising in India. It is disheartening to learn that for three years, national gymnastics competition has not even been held. Sports authority of India need to interfere and resolve the conflicts in regards to Gymnastics Federation soon.

Nitika Garg
Entrepreneur | Senior Content Writer | Technical Writer | Startup Writer She is a software engineer by education and content writer by passion. She has 8+ years of overall experience in the industry. She has written 300+ articles in different domains. She has graduated from “Iron Lady Corporate Leadership Program for Women Leaders” which is recognized by TISS, Mumbai.