Dipa Karmakar becomes first Indian to win gold in World Challenge Cup
New Delhi, July 8: Dipa Karmakar became the first Indian gymnast to clinch a gold medal at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup in Mersin, Turkey, on Sunday, after remaining out of action for nearly two years due to injury.
The 24- year- old from Tripura, who had finished fourth in vault at the Rio Olympics, scored 14.150 to win her first medal in a World Challenge Cup.
She had topped the qualification with a score of 13.400. In her first attempt, Dipa had scored 5.400 while collecting 8.700 in execution for a total of 14.100. She improved the score in her second attempt to 14.200 ( 5.600+ 8.600), giving her a total average of 14.150.
Rifda Irfanaluthfi of Indonesia clinched the silver with 13.400 points while local woman Goksu Uctas Sanli took the bronze with a score of 13.200.
Dipa, who is being accompanied by her coach Bisheshwar Nandi, missed out on another medal as she finished fourth in the balance beam event.
She had made the balance beam finals after finishing third in the qualification with a score of 11.850.
Dipa had suffered an anetrior cruciate ligament injury after Rio Olympics and had undergone surgery.
She was initially scheduled for a comeback at the 2018 Commonwealth Games but her rehabilitation took more time than expected, forcing her to miss the Gold Coast event.
Rakesh also competed in the parallel bars finals but finished fifth.
Dipa and Rakesh are the only two Indians who competed in the tournament.
World Challenge Cup series is an important competition in the calendar of International Gymnastics Federation. There are six events in the World Challenge Cup series this year and this is season’s fourth leg.
Both Dipa and Rakesh have been included in the 10- member Indian gymnastics team for the upcoming Asian Games.
“This is history and Dipa has created it. She is now the first Indian gymnast to win a gold in a world level event,” Gymnastics Federation of India vicepresident Riyaz Ahmed Bhati said.