“I want to inspire the next generation so that in 10 to 15 years, India can send a full gymnastics team to an Olympics and not just one athlete.”
– Dipa Karmakar
Dipa Karmakar is the brand ambassador of gymnastics in India. Born on August 9, 1993, in Agartala, Tripura she gained widespread recognition for her exceptional performance at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She is an Indian artistic gymnast who has made significant strides in the field of gymnastics. Dipa became the first Indian female gymnast to qualify for the Olympics and achieved the fourth position in the vault event, showcasing her remarkable skills and determination. She is a role model for young athletes across India.
Early beginnings
Dipa started training at the age of 6. She comes from a lower middle-class family, living in a state that didn’t have the center’s attention. Despite funds or attention, Dipa and her two coaches worked towards gymnastics. At that time, it was referred to as the clown sport in her town. It is also known as one of the hardest sports.
She was only 4’11 and born flat-footed. But her undying determination and practice got her the place is she known as the talent who took Indian gymnastics to the Olympics for the very first time.
Career
In 54 years, she’s the first one to take to the Olympics. In 2014, she clinched a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow. In the process, she became the first Indian woman gymnast to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games.
The diminutive Karmakar kept rising in stature in the coming few years, winning a bronze at the 2015 Asian Championships held in Hiroshima before becoming the first Indian in almost 52 years and the first-ever Indian woman to qualify for the Olympics.
Her biggest achievement in the sport of gymnastics has to be in successfully landing the Produnova Vault in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. She finished the ‘vault of threat’ move and became only the fifth woman in history to master this move.
The night she was rushing for a medal at the Rio Olympics, the entire nation stayed up to watch her. Karmakar introduced this lesser-known game of the Olympics in India. She is and will remain ultimately the brand ambassador of gymnastics in India.
Achievements
Her achievements know no bounds. She became the first Indian gymnast to win a gold medal at an international event. She secured fourth place in the Women’s Vault Gymnastics event at the Rio Olympics’ the first one to do so from India.
She received prestigious awards such as the Padma Shri(2017) and Arjuna Award(2015), which solidified her place in the archives of sports history. Through her empowering message and accomplishments, Dipa Karmakar continues to inspire women worldwide to strap up their inner strength and strive toward greatness.
Dipa Karmakar’s famous Produnova Vault
She mastered the deadly Produnova vault. Despite the obvious hazards, Dipa bravely accepted the task, when it came to her proving herself. She is one of the five women who have successfully achieved this landing. This recognition broke an incomparable record.
Setbacks
In the challenging field of sports, victories, and setbacks are an inevitable part of an athlete’s journey. The common saying, ‘You win some and you lose some’ can rightly be implied in Dipa’s journey.
Dipa Karmakar, the accomplished Indian gymnast too has had her fair share of obstacles. She went through two ACL surgeries on her knee.
Ligament transplant surgeries are a physically demanding and mentally taxing process. This set her back in months of training. This journey was further complicated by a 21-month ban that was imposed on her because of a failed drug test. This complicated her sports journey.
Despite these challenges, Dipa Karmakar remains determined. In the unpredictable world of sports, where injuries and setbacks can be disheartening, but Karmakar stays motivated. Instead of succumbing to adversity, she has chosen to channel her focus toward her training regimen, demonstrating an indomitable commitment to her craft.
The two ACL surgeries, with the accompanying ligament transplants, could have easily derailed the career of a lesser athlete. However, Karmakar’s stubbornness, as she puts it, is her greatest asset.
Looking Ahead
Karmakar has dreamed of only one thing since she was six. This dream is to secure a gold medal for India before she retires from her gymnast career. This aspiration serves her firm love and passion for the sport and her nation. She wants to represent her nation as the best on the global stage. Despite the physical toll exacted by surgeries and the emotional strain of a ban, Karmakar’s dreams have not changed. Her commitment to excellence and the quest for glory is still alive.
Dipa Karmakar stands tall, not only as a gymnast but as an inspiration to aspiring athletes worldwide. Her story is one of not giving up despite the challenges that life throws her way. She continues to train, which is the actual essence of sportsmanship.
Olympian Dipa Karmakar plans to make her comeback to the tournament after a long gap of eight years as the three-day senior national championship for gymnastics begins. Dipa plans on making her comeback in the Paris Olympics 2024.
Conclusion
Dipa Karmakar’s path in the world of gymnastics exemplifies tenacity, dedication, and unshakable devotion. Despite being rejected at an early age owing to her flat feet, she
beat the odds and followed her aspirations with unwavering tenacity. Dipa began on a 15-year journey full of hurdles and obstacles, including conquering her flat-foot disease via intense training and commitment. Her coach and family were her pillar of strength in this entire process.
Her determination to never give up, fuelled by her stubborn nature and rage towards failure enabled her to shatter barriers and achieve remarkable gymnastics achievements not just for the state or the country, but for the entire world to see. Her tireless motivation in pursuit of greatness will continue to inspire many future generations of gymnasts.Unravelling a billion untold stories, one chapter at a time, Humans of Northeast takes you on a discovery through vibrant Northeast India – a land rich in people, places, and culture. Ready to immerse yourself in more such stories? Visit our page HONEI to read more about narratives that inspire and uplift.
