Indian gymnast Pranati Nayak has learnt to live with injuries and the long road back to competition after those setbacks, but the frustrating cycle has done little to dampen her spirits as she chases a maiden Asian Games medal in her fourth appearance at the mega-event.

The 31-year-old, who is the only Indian gymnast selected for the quadrennial event, left for Aichi, Nagoya, Japan on Wednesday night for the Games beginning September 19.

It has come about after a carefully managed recovery from plantar fasciitis (inflammation of foot) that bothered her this season. She missed out on the women’s vault final at the Commonwealth Games because of this.

“I am 100 per cent fit now. Injury is a part of a gymnast’s life. A gymnast has a lot of injuries. We have to take care of them,” Nayak, who trains at the Odisha AM/NS India Gymnastics High Performance Centre, told PTI.

“I had made a mistake while running (in Glasgow) but injury was not the reason behind it. After coming back from Commonwealth Games, I have focused on perfection, landing and flexibility. I made a running mistake.

“I can’t do anything about it now. It was a very difficult phase for me. Now I am ready and focused,” she said.

The immediate response after Glasgow, however, was to step away from the apparatus rather than increase the workload.

“She had a slight injury in her leg. That’s why after the Commonwealth Games, we gave her a full three-week rest. She went home to visit her family. After that, I didn’t make her do total vaulting. We focussed on preparatory basic training stages,” coach Ashok Mishra said.

“When she got used to the rotation and twisting, when her leg recovered, then we focussed on vaulting.” Nayak had recovered from a grade 2 ankle ligament tear suffered in 2025 to win a silver medal at the FIG World Challenge Cup in Tashkent in May this year.

The return was also about regaining confidence in the movements that precede a vault, something she admits can be difficult after an injury.

“It is very difficult. The recovery takes a long time. After that injury, I had to face a lot of problems. But I never gave up. I will try to give my 100 per cent in the upcoming competition,” said the Midnapore gymnast, the first Indian to claim three Asian Championship medals.

She has also worked on the mental side of her comeback, including with consultations with psychologists, to help her concentrate on the routine rather than the pressure surrounding it.

“I have worked with a lot of psychologists. They say that you should focus on what you are doing. If you think well, it will be good. You should train your mind. Even if I can’t train much, I can keep repeating the drill in my mind,” Nayak said.

The approach will be particularly important in Nagoya, where Nayak expects a strong field featuring leading gymnasts from across Asia.

“The Asian Games will be very tough. All the top gymnasts and a lot of Olympic medallists will participate. I saw them in the qualification for the Asian Games,” she said.

Nayak has the high-difficulty Tsukahara 720 in her repertoire, but Mishra is not looking to unleash it immediately. The first objective is to get her through qualification with a clean vault and into the final.

“Our target will be to qualify for the first final. She did Tsukahara 720 before, but if she does a perfect 360 with execution, a fixed landing, and a spring straight 360, then she’ll be in the final,” Mishra said.

“When she qualifies for the final, we have two days to think whether we’ll go all out. She has two vaults, a 720 and forward 540. We’ll see how she suits the equipment, and how she does it.” The final decision will be taken after assessing how Nayak responds to the equipment and training in Japan.

“Once we get there, we’ll train for three days and then we’ll set up mentally,” Mishra said.

Nayak won three Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships medals in Ulaanbaatar (2019), Doha (2022), and Jecheon, South Korea (2025). She also holds two World Cup bronzes from Cairo (2024) and Antalya (2025). But an Asian Games medal remains a missing piece in her collection.

“My competition is with myself, so I will try to give my best. I will see how I am landing and how is my jumping and then will decide which vault I will go for,” Nayak said when asked whether she would stick to a 360-degree vault or attempt a higher difficulty.

The 2020 Olympics remains an emotional milestone for Nayak, so much so that she has etched the Olympic rings as a tattoo on her right arm.

At 31, she knows the window for a gymnast at the highest level does not stay open forever, but her sights remain firmly set on one more Olympic appearance in Los Angeles.

“I will not give up till the time I am fit.

Germany coach Jurgen Klopp handed 16 players their first call-ups on Thursday as he unveiled a 44-man squad for his first camp since taking over as coach in the summer. Teams are restricted to naming 20 outfield players and three goalkeepers for each match but the former Liverpool manager took the unusual step of naming a larger squad. Klopp has split the group into two separate squads for Germany’s four upcoming Nations League fixtures. The first group will be available for the games fixtures against the Netherlands in Amsterdam on September 24 and at home to Greece three days later in Augsburg. 

The second group will be available for Germany’s matches against Serbia in Munich on October 1 and Greece in Thessaloniki on October 4.

Klopp was named as the replacement for Julian Nagelsmann in July after the four-time World Cup winners were eliminated at the last-32 stage at the 2026 World Cup, their third successive early exit from the tournament. 

Leroy Sane, Deniz Undav, Leon Goretzka and goalkeeper Oliver Baumann have been left out, while veterans Manuel Neuer and Antonio Rudiger have since retired from international football. 

Marc-Andre ter Stegen will be Germany’s number one option in goal. 

Ter Stegen left Barcelona for Ajax on a season-long loan in the summer after a torrid run of injuries which restricted him to just 12 competitive matches in the past two years. 

Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich, the most experienced member of the squad with 114 caps, has retained the captain’s armband. 

The 31-year-old is set to move from right-back to central midfield, where he plays at club level.

Undav, one of the few bright spots for Germany at the World Cup, has been omitted. German media reported the former Brighton forward will be given time off to recover from an Achilles tendon injury. 

Among the 16 potential debutants are Eintracht Frankfurt’s Younes Ebnoutalib, who was in the second division a season ago, along with Stuttgart defender Finn Jeltsch, Brentford midfielder Vitaly Janelt and Celtic midfielder Mika Baur. 

Squad for Netherlands and Greece games in September

Goalkeepers: Finn Dahmen (Augsburg), Alexander Nuebel (Besiktas/TUR), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Ajax/NED)

Defence: Hennes Behrens (Augsburg), Yann Aurel Bisseck (Inter Milan/ITA), Nathaniel Brown (Bayern Munich), Max Rosenfelder (Freiburg), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich), Philipp Treu (Freiburg), Josha Vagnoman (Stuttgart)

Midfield: Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), Bambase Conte (Hoffenheim), Yannik Engelhardt (Freiburg), Chris Fuehrich (Stuttgart), Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich), Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Kevin Schade (Brentford/ENG), Anton Stach (Leeds United/ENG)

Forwards: Younes Ebnoutalib (Eintracht Frankfurt), Kai Havertz (Arsenal)

Squad for Serbia and Greece games in October

Goalkeepers: Noah Atubolu (Eintracht Frankfurt), Finn Dahmen (Augsburg), Jonas Urbig (Bayern Munich)

Defence: Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Ridle Baku (RB Leipzig), Finn Jeltsch (Stuttgart), Maximilian Mittelstaedt (Stuttgart), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle United/ENG)

Midfield: Karim Adeyemi (Barcelona), Mika Baur (Celtic/SCO), Tom Bischof (Bayern Munich), Said El Mala (Cologne), Brajan Gruda (RB Leipzig), Vitaly Janelt (Brentford/ENG), Felix Keidel (Elversberg), Aleksander Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), Derry Scherhant (Freiburg), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool/ENG)

Forwards: Jonathan Burkardt (Eintracht Frankfurt), Nick Woltemade (Juventus/ITA)

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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The Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match is beginning to take shape following WWE RAW in Mexico City.

Sol Ruca became the first woman to qualify after defeating Lyra Valkyria and Maxxine Dupri on September 7. Lola Vice then joined her by defeating Raquel Rodriguez and Kelani Jordan on September 14.

Four spots are still available, giving the creative team plenty of room to add some established names to the match. Here are four WWE Superstars who could make the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match considerably more star-studded.

#4. Lash Legend

Lash Legend could bring a different physical presence to the Ladder Match. The 29-year-old has established herself as one of the more imposing competitors in the women’s division. Her combination of size and athleticism could be useful in a match where competitors have to fight around ladders and constantly deal with multiple opponents.

A spot in Money in the Bank would give Legend another opportunity to make an impact. Her physical style could also add some variety to a match featuring Ruca and Vice.

#3. IYO SKY

IYO SKY would give the match some much-needed experience. The Genius of the Sky has competed in numerous multi-person matches throughout her WWE career. She is also known for her athletic offense, which could make her a natural fit for a Ladder Match.

IYO’s experience could be particularly useful with two younger competitors already qualified. She would bring an established presence to the match without taking away from the newer talent.

Moreover, the Ladder Match format gives SKY plenty of opportunities to showcase the style that has made her one of WWE’s most recognizable performers.

#2. Charlotte Flair

Charlotte Flair would instantly add another major name to the match. The Queen has won multiple women’s championships throughout her career and has also won the Royal Rumble twice. She has therefore competed in some of the company’s biggest matches and would bring plenty of experience to Money in the Bank.

Her inclusion would also create several possible stories surrounding the briefcase. Any competitor looking to establish herself could benefit from sharing the ring with someone of Flair’s stature.

With Ruca and Vice already qualified, adding Flair would give the match another proven main-event performer.

#1. Former WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton

Tiffany Stratton could be one of the most natural additions to the match. The Buff Barbie already knows how important the Money in the Bank briefcase can be. She won the women’s Ladder Match in 2024 and later cashed in successfully on Nia Jax to become champion.

She has also remained an important part of SmackDown’s women’s division. Her alliance with Chelsea Green and the recent issues with Nia Jax and Lash Legend have kept her involved in the title picture.

Another appearance in Money in the Bank would give Stratton a chance to repeat her previous success. It would also add another established name to a match that currently features two younger stars.

With four places still open, WWE can mix established performers with emerging talent. Ruca and Vice already provide the latter, while names such as Stratton, Flair, IYO, and Legend could give the Ladder Match more experience and star power.