These gymnasts are ready to represent India at the Dubai International Rhythmic Gymnastics DuGym Cup 2018. They might not have become household names yet, but seven-year-old Sia Prakash and 15-year-old Arya Garg from Gurgaon are already treated like stars thanks to their their rhythmic gymnastics performances at school functions and various competitions. And now, the two rhythmic gymnasts from Gurgaon are going to represent the country and their club, Kalaakar Academy, on an international level as they compete at the Dubai International Rhythmic Gymnastics DuGym Cup 2018. The competition starts in December and these young gymnasts have pegged their hopes on winning.While Sia, a resident of Sector 54, studies in Pathways School Gurgaon, Arya, a resident of Sector 56, studies at Pathways World School Aravali. Both have been training for almost three years now at their club. Arya says, “I had been learning artistic gymnastics since Grade 3, but I was not a very high-level artistic gymnast. In seventh grade, I was introduced to rhythmic gymnastics, and till then, I did not know that you could do gymnastics with hoops and ribbons and it is all about performing and dancing. I got very fascinated and curious, and decided I wanted to do rhythmic gymnastics.”“It was more appealing than artistic gymnastics for me, because that is more about strength and building muscles. That was not really for me,” says Arya. Sia got introduced to rhythmic gymnastics through her mother. She tells us, “My mom told me that you use hula hoops etc in rhythmic gymnastics. I enjoy it but it is difficult as well. The flexibility is difficult and I practise a lot to get it right.”Talking about the tournament, which is an invitational cup, the young gymnasts tell us that they are excited to learn from kids from all over the world. “I am excited for this competition. I want to win gold because losing is not an option,” says Sia, who wants to participate in the Olympics one day. Arya adds, “I think I want to learn more, so I will be satisfied with a silver as well. I don’t want to think that I know everything. After Dubai, I want to continue going for competitions and I will keep the practice going.”Though both Sia and Arya are preparing for next month’s tournament with four hours of daily practice, Arya has to focus on her studies as well as this is an important year for her. “I have my 10th Boards this year, so when I come home after four hours of practice, I start my studies. Sometimes I can’t manage, but I try to finish all my school-related work in class, and then I have the weekends to finish all the work. The school supports me as they try to manage my schedule according to my rhythmic gymnastics classes,” explains Arya. Sia, on the other hand, doesn’t have to worry too much about studies yet, and is treated like a star in school. “Nobody in my school does rhythmic gymnastics, so I have always been given special treatment,” she says.While the girls prepare for the Dubai competition, their mothers tell us that it’s difficult to get the right costumes and apparatus in the country. Arpana Prakash, Sia’s mother, tells us, “We finalise their costumes after watching many videos online. We know somebody who stitches these costumes in west Delhi, and we get these made from him. As far as the apparatus is concerned, we asked a friend who was travelling to Russia to get it from there. Sometimes, we get it ourselves.”

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