Each night, inside a small rented flat in Mumbai, 20-year-old Praveen Gupta strikes just a few items of furnishings apart, slips off his sneakers so the neighbours received’t complain in regards to the noise, units a timer for 30 seconds — and begins to leap.
There’s no fitness center right here. No costly gear, no coaches watching, no crowd cheering. Simply the regular sound of the rope smacking in opposition to the ground, as Praveen chases a degree of perfection few will ever see.
“I’ve been enjoying this sport since childhood, and it’s attention-grabbing as a result of it isn’t monotonous. I struggled once I tried to study new expertise, however slowly I used to be capable of choose up the tempo and enhance,” he says.
In 2024, after years of tireless coaching, Praveen broke a Guinness World Report: 69 rope crossovers whereas skipping backwards on one leg in 30 seconds. What’s extra, he did it with out sponsors, with out funding — totally on his personal.
However even that report — a second that ought to have introduced him into the highlight — modified little. In India, the place leap rope continues to be seen as little greater than a playground pastime, Praveen has spent 13 years displaying up, coaching, and pushing himself in a sport few take significantly. Even after the medals, the information, and the numerous hours of follow, he’s nonetheless combating for one thing most athletes by no means should: easy recognition, the possibility to be seen, and somebody who believes sufficient to again his dream.
From judo mats to skipping ropes
Praveen by no means got down to turn into a leap rope athlete. At school at Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), his early days have been spent on judo mats, practising throws and holds. However then, a senior, Manish Kumar, noticed one thing others hadn’t.
“Manish, who was a regional participant, noticed potential in me and urged me to take up the game significantly,” shares Praveen.
He agreed to provide it a shot. At his very first trial, he shocked everybody — scoring the very best in class. His expertise was not possible to overlook. Quickly, two of his coaches stepped in to form that uncooked potential into ability.
“Sanket sir, a skilled skipping coach, taught me the foundations and fundamentals of the game. Kiran Raja sir targeted on constructing the health I wanted to carry out effectively,” Praveen explains.
The wins adopted — clusters, regionals, nationals. However whilst his medal tally grew, breaking into particular person nationwide occasions proved frustratingly troublesome. For years, the door remained shut.
Lastly, in Class 8, the chance got here. Praveen was chosen to compete on the Faculty Video games Federation of India (SGFI) nationals at KIIT College, Bhopal. He didn’t waste it — returning with a silver medal within the particular person occasion and a gold within the workforce occasion. It was the turning level that sealed his dedication to the game.
“I nonetheless bear in mind coaching early within the chilly mornings, the two km walks for breakfast, after which once more to the follow venue. Our coach, Pankaj Shukla sir, was very strict, however the bond with my teammates made every little thing worthwhile,” he remembers.
“That event was the primary time I ever cried — not out of unhappiness, however due to the gorgeous friendships and unforgettable recollections we created.”
When the system, and a pandemic, stalled his rise
After faculty, Praveen joined VG Vaze Faculty of Arts and Science, Mulund, underneath Mumbai College, hoping faculty life would open up extra alternatives to compete whereas he pursued his bachelor’s diploma in commerce. However life, as soon as once more, threw him off track.
Simply as he was getting ready to take his expertise to the subsequent degree, the COVID-19 pandemic swept in. Competitions have been cancelled. Coaching grounds shut down. The rhythm he had constructed for years got here to an abrupt cease.
“When this occurred, I made up my thoughts that I’d turn into one of the best within the sport and present everybody my true potential,” he says.
However whilst restrictions eased and tournaments resumed, one other impediment stood in his approach — one rooted within the system itself. Soar rope was not recognised as an official sport underneath Mumbai College. That one technicality closed the door on his likelihood to compete on the All India College Video games.
“That was an enormous disappointment,” he admits.
Coaching for the world stage inside a rented flat
Irrespective of what number of setbacks life has thrown his approach, Praveen has by no means stopped coaching. His routine mirrors that of an expert athlete — however with out the luxurious of coaches, fancy gyms, or high-end gear. As an alternative, his coaching floor is a small nook inside his rented Mumbai flat.
Every morning begins the identical approach — a two-kilometre run to construct stamina, his breath clouding within the early air. Within the evenings, lengthy after the town quiets down, he shifts into his five-hour coaching routine, pushing his physique by means of leap rope drills, chasing each fraction of a second that may give him an edge.
“I practice particularly for aggressive sports activities. I’ve a timer of 30 seconds, and I attempt to practise the jumps to see what number of I can do in that specific time. I do it in three units, shifting between heavy and competitors ropes,” he explains.
For some time, he skilled with pals at a park close to his dwelling. However even there, consideration from curious passersby changed into fixed interruptions. “I used to coach together with my pals, however we stopped as a result of folks used to cease and ask questions on what we have been doing,” he shares. What was routine for him appeared unusual to others, forcing him as soon as once more to retreat indoors.
Inside his small flat, even that area comes with its personal compromises. “I reside in a rented home, so to keep away from disturbing the neighbours, I practice indoors with out sneakers,” he says. “However sporting sneakers supplies higher grip and pace, that are essential for environment friendly follow.” He is aware of it’s not perfect, but it surely’s what he has.
His buddy Yash Jadhav, who has identified Praveen since faculty, has watched his self-discipline through the years. “Praveen could be very hardworking and devoted to sports activities. He focuses on enhancing his efficiency by practising repeatedly.”
To refine his expertise even additional, Praveen turns to the solely coaches he can entry — movies of worldwide athletes on-line. Evening after evening, he research their actions body by body, watching Japanese and Chinese language leap ropers pull off methods most individuals in India have by no means even seen. “I take inspiration from Japanese and Chinese language leap ropers and have realized freestyle expertise by observing them, which has helped me compete extra successfully,” he says.
Medals, milestones, and a Guinness World Report
For a sport that has supplied him little in the way in which of services or assist, Praveen’s checklist of achievements speaks volumes. Through the years, he has competed in additional than 15 competitions and returned with over 37 medals — every one earned quietly, with out fanfare.
Amongst his many wins: first place within the Double Beneath occasion at each the KVS Nationals and the Maharashtra State Championship, together with a number of podium finishes at SGFI competitions.
Then, in November 2024, got here one in every of his proudest private milestones — the Guinness World Report. In simply 30 seconds, whereas skipping backwards on one leg, he accomplished 69 rope crossovers (crisscrosses), incomes his place within the report books. The try was absolutely self-funded, like a lot of his journey.
But even right here, Praveen speaks with the calm of somebody who is aware of his story isn’t completed. “I do know I can do extra. This was just the start,” he says.
Earlier this 12 months, on the 2025 Senior Soar Rope Nationwide Championship in Nashik, he added to his rising checklist of victories — profitable gold within the single rope doubles (underneath 30 seconds) and silver within the single rope dash.
‘Individuals assume it’s a recreation for teenagers’
For all that he’s achieved, Praveen’s hardest battle isn’t all the time on the mat or with the rope. It’s with how folks see his sport — or moderately, how they don’t.
“My mother and father don’t see a future on this sport. They assume it’s only a interest. It hurts as a result of I understand how a lot potential I’ve,” he says.
That lack of perception isn’t simply at dwelling. Exterior, too, most individuals nonetheless dismiss leap rope as one thing youngsters do throughout recess, not one thing you construct your life round. And it stings much more when that perspective runs by means of the very programs meant to assist athletes like him.
“Since leap roping was faraway from the recognised sports activities checklist in 2017 by the Authorities of India, folks have taken my achievements, expertise, and even the game with no consideration. The politics within the recreation have hindered my participation,” he says.
Cash has been one other wall he retains operating into. Whereas he’s managed to fund smaller competitions himself, the second worldwide tournaments come into the image, the prices rise far past his attain. In 2024, after incomes India’s highest rating, Praveen certified for the Asian Championship in Japan. However when the time got here, he merely couldn’t afford to register.
“I had the very best rating in India, however I couldn’t register in time due to the shortage of funds. I misplaced a golden likelihood to show myself on the world stage,” he says.
The next 12 months was no totally different. Although he certified for the 2025 World Championship, he couldn’t collect the Rs 50,000 wanted to verify his place.
“I’ve reached out to many officers and organisations for sponsorship, however for the reason that sport isn’t recognised by the federal government or a part of the Olympics but, persons are hesitant to assist me,” he says.
Regardless of holding India’s highest scores in Single Velocity Dash (30s) and Double Beneath, Praveen continues to be caught on the sidelines — not as a result of he isn’t adequate, however as a result of there’s no system backing athletes like him.
His faculty sports activities trainer, Kiran Raja, has watched his quiet self-discipline from the very starting. “At school, he used to follow for six to eight hours a day very effectively, regardless of if there was any trainer or senior on the bottom to oversee his efforts,” she remembers.
‘I wish to turn into one of the best in leap rope’
And but, by means of all of the heartbreak, Praveen retains going. What began as a faculty interest has turn into the factor that teaches him endure — and to hope.
“Soar Rope has taught me self-discipline and the highly effective lesson that true progress typically comes by means of ache, whether or not it’s the ache of defeat or the trouble required in intense coaching, and I’ve realized to embrace each,” he says.
With little official assist, Praveen and his pals have turned to no matter platforms they’ve. “We used to shoot movies for social media to advertise our sport. We attempt to create new and inventive issues day by day,” shares Yash.
The popularity should still be lacking, however Praveen stays targeted on the objective that first pulled him in.
“Even when I’ve to depart the game as a consequence of monetary causes or some other circumstances, I wish to turn into one of the best first — so that individuals will affiliate leap roping with my identify,” he says.
‘Only one extra leap’ away from world glory
For all of the obstacles Praveen has confronted, he’s nonetheless on the fringe of one thing extraordinary. Considered one of his greatest desires is to interrupt the world report held by Chinese language leap rope legend Cen Xiaolin, who has dominated the game for almost a decade. Cen’s report stands at 105 double unders in 30 seconds. Praveen’s private finest? 104.
“I’m so shut. Only one extra, and I’ll be on the high. I received’t cease till I get there,” he says, smiling.
However whilst he chases that world report, actuality weighs on him. His faculty commencement is full, and like many younger adults, he’s now balancing job searches, skilled programs, and an unsure future — all of which pull time away from his coaching.
“Now I’m looking for a sponsor for the weight-reduction plan and gear, and I’ll strive for the subsequent 12 months’s Asian Championship,” he says.
But regardless of the uncertainty, one factor retains him going: “Realizing that I maintain the very best rating in India and rank among the many quickest on this planet provides me objective. Younger athletes typically attain out for steerage and look as much as me, and that conjures up me to turn into higher every day.”
The dream continues to be burning shiny, however the flame is flickering. And as Praveen stands only one leap away from world glory, what he wants most is somebody prepared to face behind him.
Should you want to contribute or know organisations that may assist him, now could be the time to behave. Attain out to him at [email protected] or +91 8788 866138
Edited by Khushi Arora; All pictures courtesy Praveen Gupta
