Around two weeks ago, Italy's Delia Ceruti, a circus artist by profession, knew nothing about mallakhamb. Today, Ceruti, 36, after spending numerous hours across the last 12 days, training at the Shri Samarth Vyayam Mandir in Shivaji Park in preparation for the World Mallakhamb Championship over the weekend, is ready to challenge the Indians at their game, according to veteran coach and secretary of Vishwa Mallakhamb Federation (VMF), Uday Deshpande.

Ceruti, who has showcased her aerial acrobatics in over 100 circus acts, was in Spain last month to participate in a contemporary dance show. Thereafter, she returned to Italy to be a part of a hair suspension show, where she suspended her body using her hair. A few days before arriving in India, on February 1, she was back in Spain for a circus performance. She's all excited about her maiden World Mallakhamb Championship now.