She scripted history on Saturday, becoming the first Indian gymnast to win a medal in the Gymnastics World Cup in Melbourne with a score of 13.469 in the women’s vault. But there is no time to celebrate yet. Aruna Budda Reddy, a B.Com graduate from Yousufguda’s St Mary’s College, will be facing another final in floor exercises on Sunday, and then head to Uzbekistan to prep for the Commonwealth Games in Australia later this year.
Post her ‘historic’ bronze win, the 22-year-old made a call to her elder sister Pavani, a company secretary with Greenko group, which extended financial help to the gymnast to train abroad. “I could feel her joy and the emotion of achieving what no one else has before. It is a great moment for all of us. We are only surprised by the rapid progress she has been making. This is because of her passion and intense desire to be a gymnast. Unfortunately, her coach Brij Kishore sir is unwell and in the hospital,” Pavani told The Hindu .
For the past 15 years, Aruna has been training at the Lal Bahadur Stadium here. She is a Hyderabadi at heart; the Reddys, originally from Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh, have been residing in the city for the past 30 years.
“This is almost our home town. We grew up here and are grateful for the hospitality and the kind of support that Aruna received when she switched over from martial arts to gymnastics,” recalls Pavani.
Like in the case of most middle-class athletes in Indian sports, Aruna’s is also “a story of struggle”, says Pavani. “We lost our father eight years ago and we both had to be on our own, taking care of our mother too,” she says.
‘She is too good’
Former SAAP gymnastics coach and now SATS deputy director G. Ravinder was among those who had suggested to Aruna’s father, Narayana Reddy, that her short stature, great strength, flexibility and control over body would make her a good gymnast.
“She is just too good. She never complains and is always trying to improve with each session. Luckily, our mentor M. Balraj (now senior vice-president of Telangana Gymnastics Association) brushed aside the view that she was too young to compete in the National Games by giving Aruna the big break,” he said.
While the country awaits to extend a hero’s welcome to Aruna, she is not sure if she can squeeze in a fleeting visit home. “I will try my best to come to Hyderabad, but I have been advised not to waste time, and join the Indian camp in Uzbekistan right away,” said Aruna, who had been training there for the past two months.
