PLANINSBORO, New Jersey
When Nikhil Dhayagude started gymnastics classes two years ago as a birthday gift from his mom, little did he know that he had found his calling. Now with numerous medals, awards and a state championship title under his belt, there’s no looking back for the eight-year-old.
“I can see myself doing gymnastics for a long time now,” Dhayagude, a second grader at the Town Center Elementary School in Plainsboro, New Jersey, told Desi Talk, after a grueling three-hour training at Gymland-Arena Gymnastics in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.
Dhayagude and his team recently won the New Jersey State Men’s Gymnastics Championships in the 7-to-10-year-old age group, with Dhayagude winning the all-round championship, earning four gold medals. Their team defeated 16 other teams from the Garden State to claim the title. He will now compete in the Northeast Regionals to be held April 10-11 in Harleysville, Pennsylvania.
Dhayagude admits that although gymnastics is considered to be a girls’ sport, there are many boys who are “very good at it,” and that he enjoys training with his coach and his team. The pommel horse routine is his favorite, and working on the bar his least favorite, as “it is a lot of work.” Dhayagude currently trains for three-to four days a week.
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