Gymnast Rakesh Kumar Patra. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 2: Gymnastics in Odisha has found its icon in international sportsperson Rakesh Kumar Patra.

The 21-year-old from Puri district is scaling new heights. Rakesh is now busy preparing for the forthcoming World Gymnastics Championship to be held in Belgium.

Inspired by his uncle Suvendu Patra, who had taken part in international-level gymnastics championships, Rakesh began training at the age of nine in around 2000. That year, he emerged as the state champion in his age group.

Soon, he got selected for the Puri Sports Hostel. In his national debut at the sub-junior championships in 2002, he helped the Odisha boys bag the team title. His father and coach Dayanidhi Patra constantly supported the budding gymnast and Rakesh went on to win two gold, two silver and one bronze medals in his first Junior National Championships held in Bengal.

“Coaches Pradip Sahoo and Ashok Mishra, who was also the national coach in 2010-11, guided me and helped me improvise. I worked very hard, practising for about eight hours a day. I also ensured that my studies went along well but now it becomes tough to attend classes because of my tours,” said Rakesh, who has a job with the Indian Navy.

Artistic gymnastics is his forte, but Rakesh also trains in various other segments of the sport. Between 2006 and 2008, he won various medals in Russia and Hungary at events and championships. Even though he tours the globe, his dominance of the national scene continues.

At the Junior National Championships held in Cuttack in 2009, he won eight medals, including five gold, to emerge the boys’ individual champion. This year, he grabbed six gold medals and one silver for his performance in events including horizontal bars, parallel bars and Roman rings at the 53rd Senior National Artistic Gymnastics Championship held in Patiala in March.

“It is a great feeling to be at the top in your country but it also adds responsibility to earn titles in the international arena. But I am very focused. I still cherish my lessons and experiences from the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi and the Tokyo World Championships in 2011,” he said.

“I am practising hard right now and believe I will win at least one medal at the forthcoming World Championships which will begin on September 30 in Belgium.”

He is at present in New Delhi at the national camp of the Gymnastics Federation of India. Rakesh was selected for the championship as he occupied the top position in the selection trials.

In June, the youngster was also awarded Rs 1.65 lakh by the state department of sports and youth affairs for his achievements between 2009 and 2012.

“I have no complaints because I got the best guides in Odisha and even at the national level the infrastructure is quite good. Now its up to me to perform and I am sure I will give my best in Belgium,” Rakesh signed off.