Dipa Karmarkar from Tripura, who had finished fourth in vault event in the 2016 Rio Olympics, scored 14.150 to win gold in Turkey. She had topped the qualification also with a score of 13.400.
Dipa Karmakar on Sunday won gold at FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup in Mersin, Turkey. The 24-year-old, who was making here competitive return after a two-year injury layoff, scored 14.150 to take the top spot in the vault event. She had also topped the qualification with a score of 13.400. This is Dipa’s first medal in a World Challenge Cup.
In addition to her meda, Dipa, who is being accompanied by her coach Bisheshwar Nandi, has also qualified in balance beam finals by finishing third in the qualification with a score of 11.850.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Dipa on her effort. In a tweet made on Sunday, Modi said, “India is proud of @DipaKarmakar! Congratulations to her on winning a well-deserved Gold in the vault event at the FIG World Challenge Cup in Mersin, Turkey. This win is a prime example of her tenacity and never-say-die attitude.”
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 8 July 2018
Dipa had suffered an Anetrior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury after Rio Olympics and had undergone surgery. She was initially confident of making a comeback at the Commonwealth Games but rehabilitation took more time than expected and she missed the Gold Coast event.
She has been included in the 10-member Indian gymnastics team for the upcoming Asian Games. Dipa had told The Indian Express earlier that she was relieved to have made the squad. “I have become much more confident since the time of the Commonwealth Games,” she said. “Last year was a terrible year. I had to go through rehabilitation for nearly nine months and could not practice my gymnastics routines. I missed the CWG and I also missed the Asian Championships and the World Championships. I perhaps could have won medals at these competitions but the reality was that I was injured. I was clear about one thing. When I go for my next competition I would not go as a tourist nor be satisfied by reaching the final. I would only go if I know I can give my best and am capable of winning a medal.”
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