10 from Mumbai to represent India in Pole and Aerial Sports World Championship

Ten Mumbai-based aerialists are set to represent India at the Pole and Aerial Sports World Championship 2025 in Budapest this week. Aged between 9 to 15 years, the participants – trained under Aditi Deshpande and her team at Fly High Aerial Art – will also showcase Indian dance forms as a part of their routine.

The Pole and Aerial Sports World Championship is held every year and is organised by the POSA Pole Sports and Arts Foundation.

The Indian contingent comprises Prisha Gupta, Aarya Gala, Reya Gala, Kyra Mehta, Alisha Raut, Daania Pakle, Meha Mehrotra, Ryka Amin, Ada Upadhye, and Dviti Sharma.

For the past three months, the performers have been practising at Samarth Vyayam Mandir in Dadar. One of the performers, whose act encompasses elements of Bharatnatyam dance form, said, “Aerial silk needs a lot of strength and grace, and typically goes better with slow music tracks. So, it was a bit challenging to set a choreography on a fast-paced song with a lot of Indian classical music elements, but we have attempted it, and the result is a beautiful blend of Western sport with Indian elements.”