Karmakar earns Rio berth, clinches gold in vault final
NEW DELHI: “Have qualified for Rio”, was gymnast Dipa Karmakar’s short text message to her father, Dulal, soon after etching her name in the record books on Sunday.
Dipa, 22, scored 52.698 points in the artistic event at Rio to become the first Indian woman gymnast to qualify for an Olympics, beginning August 5.
Like the message,
Dipa’s preparation time for the Rio test event was short. It was a God-sent opportunity for the
Arjuna awardee as two gymnasts from North Korea withdrew. One slot was allotted to a gymnast from Colombia, and being the second reserve, Dipa was informed of her participation on March 18. “She was into routine office work at that time,” Dulal, a weightlifting coach, told HT from Agartala.
Undeterred by the lack of preparation, the camp started on March 21 in Delhi, as Dipa was determined not to let the chance go waste. Veteran coach GS Bawa said Dipa made optimum use of her vaulting skills to earn the Rio berth. “She vaulted to a new high,” he said. GOING UNNOTICED
Dipa had finished fifth at the World Championships in October. Since no one took note of the performance, she went home to spend time with her parents.
“Things have changed for the good,” said her father. The sports ministry has now offered her financial assistance by including her in the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). With four months to go for Rio, it’s uncertain how she will use the funds, but Dipa will compete in an international event in July.
Few know Dipa has had to put up with politics as three factions are fighting to take control of the gymnastics federation. In the absence of a national governing body since 2013, credit goes to Dipa, winner of bronze at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, for braving odds. Had there been a national body, India might have earned a berth in the men’s group as well, said Bawa.
Despite Dipa’s feat, the struggle for top gymnasts will continue as the sports ministry has no plans to recognise the federation. “The chances of a united front seem remote,” said a ministry official.
ICING ON CAKE
RIO DE JANEIRO: After qualifying for Rio on Sunday, Dipa clinched gold in the vault finals at the test event of the Rio Games here on Monday. A score of 14.833 in her first attempt, was her best. She scored 14.566 in her second and last try. of Biswaswar Nandi
Won her first medal at the junior level in 2007
During the 2011 National Games, won five gold for Tripura
At the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, she won bronze