Faridabad’s Niranjana Punia Wins Bronze at Junior Nationals – First Female Gymnast from the District to Medal in a Decade

Faridabad, 08 May : In a proud and historic achievement for the city, Niranjana Punia, a gymnast from North Star Sports Academy, clinched the Bronze Medal in Balance Beam at the National Junior Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Championship, held in Pune from April 24 to May 3, 2025. This marks the first time in over a decade that a female gymnast from Faridabad has secured a national-level medal in the junior category.

The championship witnessed the participation of nearly 200 of India’s top junior gymnasts representing states from across the country. Niranjana, along with fellow Faridabad gymnast Tanisha Panchal, represented Team Haryana. Their selection came after strong performances in the state trials held in Gurugram on April 18 and 19.

In the Balance Beam Finals, Niranjana delivered a graceful and technically solid routine that earned her 10.33 points, securing the third position behind gymnasts from Tripura (Gold) and West Bengal (Silver).

She trains under the mentorship of Coach Shivam Kumar Chauhan, whose focused guidance and technical expertise have been instrumental in Niranjana’s growth and consistency as a gymnast.

Manjeet Punia, Director of North Star Sports Academy, applauded Niranjana’s feat, saying:

“This is more than just a medal — it’s a revival of hope and pride for Faridabad’s gymnastics community. Niranjana’s journey is a testament to what can be achieved when dedication meets opportunity. At North Star, we are committed to nurturing such talent. In fact, this year we are adopting 10 underprivileged children to provide them with complete, free-of-cost training — including nutrition, attire, and travel.”

Though Tanisha Panchal missed out on a medal this time, her participation in the national championship remains a noteworthy achievement. With rising talent and increasing support, Faridabad is now emerging as a serious contender on the national gymnastics map.