Bluff resident Hanna Chengiah(14) has qualifies to compete in the Rhythmic Gymnastics Junior World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. The competition takes place in June.
Image: Leon Lestrade
Durban gymnast Hanna Chengiah is preparing for the Rhythmic Gymnastics Junior World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria in June.
Image: Leon Lestrade
HANDSTANDS, homework and hope.
That’s the routine of Durban gymnast Hanna Chengiah who is preparing for the Rhythmic Gymnastics Junior World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.
It’s a dream that few teenagers achieve and ever fewer dare to dream, but Hanna is not your typical 14-year old.
While her peers are navigating school, friends and hobbies, the Bluff resident is in the gym for 18 hours a week, defying gravity and pushing herself to be more flexible, fearless and faster.
“I feel very excited and privileged to be going to such a place at my age. Excited, happy and a little bit nervous at the same time,” she told the Independent on Saturday this week.
Durban gymnast Hanna Chengiah hopes to shine on the international stage.
Image: Leon Lestrade / Independent Newspapers
In Bulgaria, Hanna and her four teammates will compete in the group event against gymnasts from 19 other countries; the best in the world. They’ll be contestants in two disciplines, hoops and clubs.
She says they’ve taken on many champions in the past and through prayer and motivation they’ve managed to swirl to victory. “We believe that we are going to be the best and we are going to do our best,” she said.
Despite the grueling schedule, Hanna excels academically, often swapping social time for schoolbooks during water breaks between routines. There isn't much time for friends and when not in training she tries to catch up on sleep at the weekend. Despite two shin splints and a niggling back injury Hanna just straps her legs and carries on training. Her vision? To become a professional athlete, lawyer, and — one day — an Olympic star like her favourite gymnast Sofia Raffaeli, a World, Olympic and European champion from Italy.
Hanna’s mum, Raelene Chengiah is visibly emotional and says the hard work and long hours have certainly paid off.
“Hanna in recent years has placed first and in the top 3 in South Africa in her age group at the SA Gym Games held in Johannesburg and Cape Town respectively. Most recently in December she competed in Zimbabwe at the Region 5 gymnastics competition and her team placed first. In March this year they competed in JHB at the Junior world championships trials and her team placed first qualifying them to compete in Sofia in June.”
Chengiah will accompany Hanna and her teammates to Bulgaria armed with a well-stocked first aid kit. “It is absolutely overwhelming, and in the same way it is an absolute privilege because this is an opportunity that many children her age don't get.
“All the girls are at different levels but they get on well. They push each other, they motivate each other, they have fun. The most important thing is having fun and loving what she does because if she didn't love what she's doing, she wouldn't be where she is,” said Chengiah.
She says her daughter started gymnastics at the age of four and is already a level nine gymnast, almost at elite level, a notable accomplishment at her age. She said the girls are very proud to be Proteas and represent South Africa abroad. They were excited to wear their blazers and their green tracksuits.
“Representing KZN for the past few years was a huge deal and when they qualified in Joburg just over a month ago I don't think there was a dry eye from Durban in the room, because we realised what a huge deal it is. As adults and as parents, we see the bigger picture of earning your green blazer. I think the children know it's a big deal but I don't think they can fully grasp that whole concept yet.”
She said Caryn and Tayla Henry the coaches at the Glenwood Gymnastics Club were very supportive and were akin to family. Hanna’s parting shot to other girls who are involved in sport is “Never give up. Push, you've got this. No matter what other people say or think, only your opinion matters.”
But Hanna’s dream of competing on the world stage comes with a price tag: R50 000 per athlete. That's the amount needed for entry fees, their national kit, airfare, transport and accommodation. As part of the fundraising initiative Chengiah has set up a Backabuddy account which the public can use to donate funds.
"Any extra money will go towards the other girls,” she said.
To support Hanna’s leap from the Bluff to Bulgaria you can go online and make a pledge at https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/rhythmic-gymnastics-south-african-junior-team