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All eyes on Dipa as gymnast set to create history
RIO DE JANEIRO: Dipa Karmakar got hooked on to gymnastics after watching Ashish Kumar’s bronze and silver at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. In April, she
RIO DE JANEIRO: Dipa Karmakar got hooked on to gymnastics after watching Ashish Kumar’s bronze and silver at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. In April, she grabbed a piece of history by becoming the first Indian woman gymnast to qualify for the Olympics.
In action on Sunday, not many had given her a chance when she had qualified for the Games at this venue. She has worked hard towards mastering Produnova—a double front somersault vault — and is hopeful of a good show. “Her hard work, determination and never-say-die attitude make her confident ,” said coach Bisweshwar Nandi.
Not one to sit on laurels, she is aware a medal here could change the face of gymnastics at home. A trendsetter, Dipa was the first Indian woman gymnast to win a medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and followed it up with bronze at the Asian Championships in Hiroshima. She also reached the final round of the 2015 World Championships and finished fifth. Later in the year, she won a bronze at the Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Japan.
Taking to the sport at six, Dipa had to work harder as she had flat feet. She won the Junior Nationals at age 14. Participating in state, national and international championships, she has so far won 77 medals, including 67 gold. HIGH HOPES Ranked 10th in the world, Japan might be rated three spots higher, but the Indian women’s hockey team is hopeful of a good start to their Olympic campaign.
They had beaten Japan in a classification match to finish fifth in the World League semi-finals and qualify for the Olympics for the first time since 1980.
With 106 caps, Deep Grace Ekka, who was part of the 2014 Asian Games bronze medal winning team, will man the defence along with captain Sushila Chanu.
In the absence of Ritu Rani, who was omitted, it will be a test for the Manipur defender who had led the juniors to a bronze at the World Cup in Germany three years ago.
Rani Rampal will lead the forward-line while goalkeeper Savita Punia will be under the bar.
Coach Neil Hawgood coached the team July 2012 to November 2014, and during the phase the team had won the Asiad bronze and Asian Championship silver in 2013. India are ranked the lowest in Pool B that has Argentina, Australia, England and USA. India had finished fourth out of six teams at the 1980 Olympics.
