Kolkata: Dipa Karmakar created history by becoming the first Indian woman gymnast to qualify for Olympics as she booked a berth for the Rio Games after a strong performance at the final qualifying and test event.
Karmakar hails from Agartala, Tripura and started practising gymnastics when she was 6 years old. She has been coached by veteran Bisbeshwar Nandi since. Karmakar had flat feet when she first enrolled into gymnastics as her coach once recalled. Dipa credits her coach for her success saying she would be nothing today if not for her coach. Dipa’s father was a SAI coach and he wanted her to try gymnastics, so he introduced her to despite her being reluctant. She got trained in the Vivekananda Byamagar
In 2007 she won at the Junior Nationals in Jalpaiguri which furthered her passion for the sport. Since 2007, Dipa has won 77 medals including 67 gold, in state, national and international championships. She was part of the 2010 Indian gymnastics contingent in the Delhi Commonwealth Games where, as a participant, she saw Ashish Kumar create history by winning India’s first ever gymnastic medals at the games.
Dipa’s father Dulal Karmakar who is a weightlifter himself quoted as saying,” As she was slim, I put her into gymnastics so that she can utilize her slimness and she had reacted well enough.” Dipa’s mother Gouri Karmakar is a house-wife. When did you come to know about Dipa’s qualification news? Dulal said,” Today morning at 5:45 a.m. Dipa sent me a sms about her qualification. I am happy with the news. We have dreamt a lot on her. This is just the first step and it is still a long way to go.”
Dipa has not only proved herself in gymnastics but she has been good enough in her education. She is pursuing Masters in Political Science from Tripura University.
At the age of 14, she won the Junior National Champinship. In February 2011, Karmakar competed in the 2011 National Games of India representing Tripura. She won five gold in floor, vault, all around, balance beam and uneven bars. In July, at the 2014 Commonwealth Games Karmakar won a bronze medal in the women’s vault final, thanks to a vault of difficulty 7.00. She received an overall score of 14.366. This win made her the first Indian woman to win a commonwealth gymnastics medal and the second Indian, after Ashish Kumar. At a felicitation for the CWG athletes on August 8 in Delhi, Dipa Karmakar, was acknowledged by India’s sporting icon. Sachin Tendulkar by mentioning her in his speech saying that it was a big achievement and that he was proud of her.
Minara Begum, coach of SAI West Bengal Gymnastics department quoted as saying,” I first met with Dipa at the Incheon Asian Games camp.” What is the secret behind her success? She said, ”Dipa has got an excellent willpower which separates her from others. She is a hard worker and a very obedient girl.”
On asking Minara Begum about why India is lagging behind in gymnastics, she said,” We were neglected a lot during our days. Now it has changed a lot. Nowadays a proper training schedule is maintained which was missed during our days.”
Pranati Nayek, a seventeen year old girl from Kolkata who is an upcoming gymnast quoted as saying,” Dipadi is my inspiration. She motivates me a lot. “