Dipa Karmakar in New Delhi on Saturday.
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Asian Games gold medallist Jitu Rai has been recommended for the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for his exploits in pistol shooting in the last two years although he couldn’t win a medal in the Rio Olympics. “I now want to put it behind me and move on”, she said on Wednesday morning.
“I have this satisfaction that people would now feel that India can win a medal in Gymnastics”.
There a medical test was conducted on her flat foot, which ruled her out of gymnastics, Karmakar said. That said, finishing eighth in the world has apparently left an impression back in India. This feat is made more fantastic by the fact that she is the first Indian woman to compete in the Olympics’ gymnastics competition. Speaking to Reuters after her heroics at Rio, Dipa said that she hopes to inspire the next generation of Indian gymnasts. Whatever, I have achieved is because of him. She would have been content had she received the award after winning a medal but was glad her efforts got recognised.
If that happens, it will be because of the barriers Karmakar and her coach Bishweshwar Nandi have broken down over the past decade.
Belonging to a humble family background in Agartala, Dipa made her way through the top level of her sport with little support and non-existent training facilities which made her Olympics heroics all the more commenadable.
“She will be greeted by the crowd and there will be a welcome song”.
Sprinter Tintu Lukha is also said to be in contention for the honor.
Incidentally, Dipa will appear for the second semester exam of her MA (political science) course from Tuesday.
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Asserting that nothing has changed in her life, Karmakar is extremely proud that she brought gymnastics to limelight in India. I am really happy with my performance. We have a pool of talents in our country and now we have good equipment as well. “Even now we still do not have the Olympic standard balance beam and uneven bars in India”, explained Karmakar, who was one of only two competitors in Rio to attempt the high-risk Produnova vault. Securing fourth position in such a competitive event is a truly excellent achievement.
