Bhubaneswar: The National Junior and Senior Artistic Gymnastics Championships kicked off at the Gymnastics Centre in Kalinga Stadium complex here on Saturday.
The first four days will see men’s competitions with the finals and closing ceremony on April 28. The women’s events will be held from April 29 to May 3.
Around 350 men from across the country are vying for medals in a show of discipline and skill.
The athletes will compete in six artistic g
ymnastics events — Floor Exercise, Vault (Table Horse), Rings, Parallel Bars, Pommel Horse and Horizontal Bar. Events will be held in both team and individual all-around categories.
The opening ceremony was graced by Director (Sports) Vijay Yeddula, Additional Secretary, DSYS B K Swain, Member of Technical Committee, World Gymnastics Steve Butcher, Odisha Gymnastics Association secretary Ashok Sahoo, Odisha Olympics Association president Samir Mohanty and other dignitaries.
Performances in the Nationals, biggest tournament in the country, will be closely watched as selectors will pick the Indian team for the upcoming Asian Championships.
The championship is being organised by Odisha Gymnastics Association in collaboration with Gymnastics Federation of India (GFI) and with the support of the Odisha government’s Sports and Youth Services Department.