New Delhi: Ariha Pangambam scripted history by becoming the first Indian gymnast to clinch a gold medal in the senior women’s individual event at the Aerobic Gymnastics Asian Championships, held in Tagaytay City, Philippines, from August 4 to 7.
The gymnast from Manipur accumulated 19.100 points to top the podium in the Senior Women’s Individual final. She earned 8.650 for artistry, 7.600 for execution and 2.850 for difficulty to finish ahead of her competitors and secure the top position.
This marked India’s first-ever senior gold medal at the championships and added a significant milestone to Ariha’s growing list of achievements in aerobic gymnastics.
“A great achievement for us. Did very well. Kudos to her and her coach,” Gymnastic Federation of India president Sudhir Mital told PTI.
Ariha defeated her closest rivals, Kanokpit Mali of Thailand and Mahiro Kishibe of Japan, who won the silver and bronze medals respectively. Her performance in the final helped her move from fourth place finishes at the previous two editions to the top of the podium in 2026, as reported by timesnow.in.
Sanctioned by the Asian Gymnastics Union, the continental tournament saw participation from 400 gymnasts from 11 countries, with Ariha emerging as the standout performer in the Senior Women’s Individual event.
The champion grew up in Imphal and trained under coach Yumnam Ranjan Singh. Her journey in the sport has seen her compete at several international events while continuing to make a mark at the national level.
Ariha has represented India in multiple International Championships, with her notable wins being a bronze at the Asian Cup. She also won golds in the National Games in 2023 and 2025.
She also contested at international platforms like the FIG Aerobic Gymnastics World Championships and the Suzuki World Cup in Japan, gaining valuable experience against competitors on the international circuit.
The gymnast finished fourth at the Asian Championships in both 2022 and 2024, sealing this 2026 victory as a testament to her hard work. After finishing just outside the podium in the previous two editions, she converted her opportunity in Tagaytay City to claim the senior women’s individual title.
Ariha is currently pursuing sports leadership studies at AISTS India, balancing her academic pursuits with her career as an international gymnast.