In love with rhythm

“My game is my priority and I am passionate about it,” says the top rhythmic gymnast of the country, Palak Kour Bijral, who is a student of MCM College, Chandigarh.

Her journey towards becoming a gymnast started when she was just six years old. At the age of 12, she became the youngest sportsperson to participate in the Commonwealth Games. Had it not been for her coaches, Krupali Patel Singh and S.P Singh, who encouraged her, the journey would have been incomplete, that’s what Palak believes.

Motivational factors

“The day I decided to become the rhythmic gymnast, my coaches Krupali Patel and SP Singh, stood beside me like pillars,” Palak says. Ever since she came across Krupali, the thought of becoming a gymnast took deep roots in her mind and worked as a motivating factor. Palak also draws inspiration from the 21-year-old, Russian Rhythmic Gymnast World Champion, Margarita Mamun.

“Whenever I watch Margarita perform, I become more confident about myself,” says Palak.

Feathers in the cap

Palak, at the age of 11, had participated in 9 National Gymnastics Championships. As soon as she turned 12, she became the top rhythmic gymnast of the country and became the youngest sportsperson to be selected as Core Probable for the prestigious Commonwealth Games – 2010 in New Delhi. In 2014, she made it to the Commonwealth Games at Glasgow, Scotland.

Palak has won 38 medals (15 gold, 15 silver and eight bronze) in the various national championships. Recently, Palak won two gold and four silver medals in All-India Inter-University Gymnastics Championships held in Chandigarh in February this year. Recipient of the state award, Sher-I-Kashmir Sports in 2006, the accomplished gymnast has a long way to go because she believes, “Sky is the limit.”

Flipside of being an achiever

Palak believes that everyone has the choice to distinguish between the right and wrong. “My love for the game helped me manage everything. I used to practice the entire day and study late night, when everyone else used to sleep,” she says.

Words of wisdom

Follow your passion ; you’re no less than anybody in this world—is the advice from the top rhythmic gymnast.

(As told to Kriti Thakur)