LUCKNOW, May 14 -- "I don't feel shy competing with 15 to 18-year-olds. I enjoy it," says Ashish Kumar, India's most decorated gymnast, who now takes on a new role - identifying the country's next generation of champions at the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG). The 34-year-old, who created history by winning India's first-ever gymnastics medals at the Commonwealth and Asian Games in 2010, is now mentoring young athletes from the sidelines of the ongoing KIYG gymnastics events at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. Come December, Kumar will complete 22 years in the sport, a journey that began in Prayagraj (then Allahabad) and led to 111 medals, including 81 at the international level. Now, for the first time, he's attending a major event not as a participant, but as a talent scout. "It wasn't exciting at the start," he admits. "But once the events began, I started enjoying the process. It reminded me of my early days in Prayagraj when I was starting out." Despite his scouting role, Kumar remains committed to his own athletic goals. He recently participated in the World Cup in Antalya, Turkey, where he competed in the floor exercise and scored 12.33 under the new Code of Points introduced after the Olympics. "I am still training hard and aiming for more medals," he said. "But at the same time, this new responsibility of observing young talent is refreshing. It's something I've never done before." He is also eyeing a return to the podium at the upcoming Commonwealth Games. "The goal is always to win more. That's what keeps me going," said Kumar. Kumar noted that the changing structure of the sport requires gymnasts to adapt constantly. "After every Olympics, the code of points changes. Now we have to do eight elements in the routine, which means constructing a whole new set," he said. His focus remains on the floor exercise, his strongest event, where he continues to innovate and fine-tune his performances. Kumar's legacy dates back to his breakthrough in 2010 when he became the first Indian gymnast to win medals at both the Commonwealth and Asian Games. Reflecting on his journey, he said: "When I started winning in 2003, I never imagined it would lead to this. But each medal motivated me to keep pushing." Now, as he scans the mats at KIYG, Kumar sees a promising future for Indian gymnastics. "The younger lot is very impressive. Many of them have the potential to succeed at the international level," he said....