It is rightly said that the real talent of any person is seen at a very young age. Palak Kour Bijral who is India’s top rhythmic gymnasts began gymnastics when she was 6. Getting to represent India on an international level is something which very few people get a chance and Palak is fortunate to represent the nation on a global level. At the age of 8, she took part in her first Artistic Gymnastics competition. She hails from Jammu & Kashmir and started practicing rhythmic gymnastics at 11 after which she did a 45-day summer coaching camp at the Jintana Rhythmic Gymnastics Club in Bangkok, Thailand. Palak’s first stint as a rhythmic gymnast was during the National Championship which took place in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. At the event, she bagged 3 gold medals and 1 silver medal under 12 sub-junior group category.
Her first international participation was in 2008 at the 4th Children of Asia International Games in Yakutsk, Mirny, Neryungri (Russia). She was the only player who got selected from J&K by the Federation of India. Her first government recognized award which she bagged was the Sher-i-Kashmir Award in 2006 after she became sub-junior National Champion of India. Her participation in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasglow, Scotland gave her the recognition and she returned India with much cheer. For the same, the former Chief Minister of the state, Mr. Omar Abdullah felicitated her with the Sher-i-Kashmir Sports Award for the year 2014-15 with a cash award and a memento. Besides CWG 2014, she represented India in many other international arenas including Asian Championship in 2013, World Championship in 2013 and World Cup in 2014.
For her great contribution, The State Award was then announced and she was named as the “The Outstanding Sportsperson” of J&K. In the National Games of India 2015, she bagged 2 gold medals for which she was acknowledged with a token of respect and appreciation by Mr. NN Vohra. In 2017, Palak swiped 2 gold medals and 4 silver medals at the All India Inter-University Championship and was awarded by former CM of J&K Mehbooba Mufti. Not just this, in 2018, former Home Minister of India, Mr. Rajnath Singh along with Mehbooba Mufti felicitated her for overall magnificent and exceptional sportsperson of J&K. “All I have is gratitude. I would want to thank God and my parents for always supporting me. It has truly been an incredible experience to get awarded by India’s well-known dignitaries”, she quoted. With being an inspiring sportsperson to many, Palak Kour Bijral has always been putting up J&K in the Indian Squad and shall continue to do so for the upcoming years.
