Bhubaneswar: Over 600 gymnasts representing 25 states, 3 Union territories and service boards will vie for glory in the Junior & Senior Artistic Gymnastics National Championships 2026-27, to be held at Bhubaneswar’s Kalinga Stadium from April 25 to May 3.
Among prominent gymnasts who will take part include Pranati Nayak, Tapan Mohanty, Tapeswaranath Das from Odisha AM/NS India Gymnastics HPC. Other India internationals Yogeshwar Singh, Asish Kumar and Protishta Samanta will also show off their expertise alongside emerging talents during the nine-day championships.
Men and women will compete in Team Championships, Individual All-Around and Apparatus events across junior and senior categories.
The opening ceremony will be held on Saturday. Competitions will be conducted in multiple sessions, culminating in the finals and closing ceremonies on April 28 (men’s) and May 3 (women’s).
The Nationals will be conducted on FIG-approved apparatus, supported by a technical panel of around 300 officials, it was announced by at a press conference on Friday.
The championship is being organise
d 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.
GFI’s Chief Operating Officer Kallol Mukherjee underlined the importance of the championships.
“The National Championships remain a critical benchmark in India’s gymnastics calendar. Performances here will directly influence selections for major upcoming international competitions, including the Asian Championships, Asian Games, and the Commonwealth Games. The depth of talent we are witnessing today reflects the steady progress of gymnastics in India and platforms like these Nationals are essential to building that competitive edge,” Mukherjee told mediapersons.
Bijay Kumar Swain, Additional Secretary in Odisha government’s Sports and Youth Services Department, highlighted the state’s growing prominence in the sport.
“Odisha has consistently focused on strengthening its sports ecosystem through world-class infrastructure, scientific training support, and grassroots development initiatives. Gymnastics is gaining strong momentum in the state, and hosting prestigious national events such as this championship further reinforces our commitment to nurturing talent and positioning Odisha as a leading centre for sporting excellence in India.”
OGA general secretary Ashok Sahoo said such events create valuable opportunities for promising athletes to learn from one another and elevate their performance.