Avani aiming to reach greater heights in a little-known sport | More sports News

It has been 4 years since sports activities climbing got here into the Olympic fold at Tokyo Video games in 2021. However the sport nonetheless struggles for consideration in India. Nonetheless, that did not deter 12-year-old Avani Yerragunta from giving wing to her dream within the sport. What began as a passion at dwelling, is now her ardour.
The VII commonplace pupil of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s in Jubilee Hills desires to r every better heights – pun supposed.”I began to climb rocks and bushes at dwelling. My dad and mom had been scared that I might get injured. So, on my tenth birthday, they took me to Crag Studio in Gachibowli. That’s how it began,” Avani instructed TOI on Monday.
The gifted athlete impressed everybody within the first three months of her coaching in 2021. She completed fifth within the South zone competitions in Bengaluru. She then clinched silver in Hyderabad bouldering championship in 2023. The next yr, she dominated the state meet with one other first place-finish and earned second and third positions in lead and bouldering on the South zone Championship, which earned her a spot within the -Nationals in 2023, the place she completed a reputable sixth.

“I wish to turn out to be a global athlete in Sports activities Climbing. I like the sport and I wish to obtain huge,” mentioned the teenager, who admires worldwide Czech star rock climber Adam Ondra.
Avani trains 4 to 5 days per week. Nonetheless, the restricted services in Hyderabad are a significant hindrance. For her physician dad and mom – Tirumal and Sri Latha – it is a fixed battle to search out higher coaching services. “To turn out to be a prime athlete within the recreation, she wants higher coaching services. Hyderabad would not have services apart from the Crag Studio. So, we take her to Bengaluru, New Delhi, and Jamshedpur for coaching. We’ve a month-long camp in Bengaluru each summer time,” defined her dad and mom.
“The coaching for the game may be very draining. With restricted services, it is vitally troublesome for her to go to the subsequent degree. She is now competing on the sub-junior degree. When she goes to junior and senior ranges, the competitors will likely be more durable. So it wants loads of coaching. We’re keen to help her on her journey,” added Sri Latha.