Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport that combines elements of ballet, gymnastics, dance, using one or two pieces of apparatus. It is a women’s event in which gymnasts perform on a floor using a rope, hoop, ball, clubs or ribbon accompanied by music, in individual or group events. In India this sport is becoming popular with more and more young girls taking active interest. And we saw our girls from Maharashtra inviting all the attention displaying their proficiency in this sport at the recently concluded Khelo India Youth Games 2019 held in Pune. Maharashtra Girls won a total of 16 medals (6 Gold, 6 Silver, 4 Bronze) in different events of Rhythmic Gymnastics.
Among them was 19 year old Aditee Dandekar from Mumbai. Aditee is studying S.Y. B.Sc.(Bio-chemistry) from Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous College. Magzmumbai met Aditee during her felicitation function by Racketlon India Sports Association ( RISA) organised by its founder Mr. Krishna Kotak and others at CCI, Mumbai. Accompanied by her parents young Aditee was overwhelmed by this gesture and later spoke about her progress in this sport.
Aditee has been trained for the past ten years under the able guidance of Mrs. Varsha M. Upadhye, an International Level Judge for Rhythmic Gymnastics for last 3 Olympic cycles and also an International Level Coach for Rhythmic Gymnastics. Varsha’s assistant Ms.Kshipra Joshi, former gymnast Shiv Chatrapati Awardee, International Level Judge was a coach of Maharashtra team in Rhythmic Gymnastics in which Aditee represented at the Khelo India Youth Games 2019.
Aditi with her parents
As a Rhythmic Gymnast Rhythmic Gymnast Aditee has won 137 gold medals, 69 silver medals and 19 bronze medals at various domestic and international competitions during the last eleven years, which is a big achievement. But, she does not forget her initial training in Gymnastics as a Kid at Samarth Vyayam Mandir, Shivaji Park , which has helped her to make progress in this sport.
Aditee’s individual performance at the KHELO INDIA YOUTH GAMES 2019 was good and her total medal tally was 3 Gold Medals and 2 Silver Medals + 1st RANK in under 21 age group . Last year she represented at the three international competitions, including World Championship, Bulgaria and World Challenge Cup, Belarus. And she improved her ranking to 61st Rank in Individual Exercise, and 24th Rank in Group Exercise. Considering her present performance at Khelo India Khelo Games , Aditee is certainly a bright prospect for India in the forthcoming international events.