With Tokyo Olympics ahead, Dipa sets up base in Mumbai
NEW DELHI: At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Dipa Karmakar came close to delivering her disbelieving nation a medal in gymnastics, finishing a close fourth in the most demanding of events — vault. Having overcome a knee injury that threatened to end her career, the gymnast is back chasing the big dream of a medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
With an eye on Olympic qualification, Dipa, 25, has begun vigorous training in the build-up to the World Championships in October. “She is enjoying her training and we expect good results later this year,” said her coach Bisweswar Nandi. “Dipa has fully recovered and is back to hard training sessions.”
As there is no national camp, Dipa and her coach have shifted base to Mumbai, where she is training at a centre run by former international gymnast, Abhijeet Shinde. “The gym has the latest equipment --- training on equipment that is being used in (international) competition is a big advantage,” Nandi said over phone from Mumbai.
The national preparatory camp for international competitions is usually held at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Indoor Sports Complex under the aegis of Sports Authority of India (SAI). But Nandi said “facilities are equally good” in Mumbai.
Dipa’s competition schedule includes two World Cups in March. “We’ve given our proposal to the government (SAI) and hopefully it would be cleared,” he said.
The Gymnastics Federation of India (GFI) said there is no request for the Melbourne World Cup starting February 21, but Dipa has shown interest in the Baku World Cup (March 14-17) and the Doha World Cup (March 20-24). “We will send her entries,” said Deepak Kabra, a GFI official.
The stress on the knees is immense in vault and Dipa captured the nation’s imagination by attempting the dangerous Produnova routine at Rio. There was concern over her career after she underwent knee surgery in April, 2017. However, she signalled her return by winning gold in the World Challenge Cup at Mersin, Turkey last June. She then pulled out of the medal round at the Asian Games as her coach felt the knee injury could flare up.
But she buried speculation about her fitness three months later, by winning bronze in the World Cup at Cottbus, Germany (Nov 21-25). Nandi is confident Dipa will do well in both World Cups. Out of eight World Cups, it is mandatory to compete in three and ranking points will help qualify for Olympics. “There is also an option to qualify through World Championships,” Kabra said.