Now Reading: Mumbai siblings win world gold in aerial silk and bridge
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Mumbai siblings win world gold in aerial silk and bridge
Vir Gahrotra (17) won India’s first-ever gold at the Pole and Aerial Sports World Championship in Hungary last December. His sister Viha (14) won the Under-16 Final B at the 9th World…
The Story in Brief
Vir Gahrotra (17) won India’s first-ever gold at the Pole and Aerial Sports World Championship in Hungary last December. His sister Viha (14) won the Under-16 Final B at the 9th World Youth Transnational Championship in Hefei, China last Wednesday. The Worli siblings compete in two very different disciplines: Vir in aerial silk and Viha in bridge.
Both took up their sports unexpectedly. Vir started aerial silk as physiotherapy for underdeveloped thigh muscles; Viha discovered bridge through a family friend who is a three-time under-16 world champion. Aerial silk still awaits recognition from the Indian Olympic Association, while bridge is recognised by the IOC but lacks coaching infrastructure in India.
The Indian Opinion
Indian parents often push children toward mainstream sports with established career paths. The Gahrotra siblings show that an organic path can yield world titles even in offbeat disciplines. The real test is not just winning gold, but whether India’s sports bodies will give these athletes the training infrastructure and recognition they deserve.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
