Dipa Karmakar is an Indian artistic gymnast hailing from Agartala, the capital of Tripura. She is representing India at the international arena and in Rio Olympics 2016. Dipa Karmakar has caught the attention for performing the risky Produnova vault, a double-front somersault which has the highest degree of difficultly for a women`s vault.
Early Life of Dipa Karmakar
Dipa Karmakar was born on 9th August 1993, Agartala in the capital city of Tripura. Dipa Karmakar started practising gymnastics when she was 6 years old. She has been coached by veteran gymnast Bisbeshwar Nandi since.
Career of Dipa Karmakar
Dipa Karmakar rose to recognition in both Indian and international gymnastic competition when she won a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, which was held at Glasgow. There she became the first Indian female gymnast to win the bronze medal. Dipa Karmakar is one of the five women that have successfully landed the very difficult Produnova vault in competition, also holding the highest score amongst all (15.100) in her attempt. Dipa Karmakar also won a bronze at the Asian Gymnastics Championships and finished fifth at the 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships both a first for her country. These achievements have established her as the most successful gymnast from India despite her young age. In April 2016, Dipa Karmakar became the first female Indian gymnast ever to secure an Olympic berth by garnering a total score of 52.698 points. Additionally, she will be the first Indian gymnast to qualify for the Olympics after 52 years of Indian history gymnast.
National Career of Dipa Karmakar
In 2007, Dipa Karmakar won at the Junior Nationals in Jalpaiguri in West Bengal which furthered her passion for the sport. Since 2007, Dipa Karmakar has won 77 medals including 67 gold, in state, national and international championships. Dipa Karmakar was part of the 2010 Indian gymnastics contingent in the Delhi Commonwealth Games where, as a participant, she saw Ashish Kumar, another Indian gymnast who created history by winning India`s first ever gymnastic medals at the games.
Dipa Karmakar in National Games
Dipa Karmakar competed in the 2011 National Games of India representing Tripura in February. Dipa Karmakar won five golds in floor, vault, all around, balance beam and uneven bars.
Dipa Karmakar in Commonwealth Games
In July, at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Dipa Karmakar won a bronze medal in the women`s vault final with a difficulty of 7.00 points. Dipa Karmakar received an overall score of 14.366.This win made her the first Indian woman to win a Commonwealth Gymnastics medal and the second Indian, after Ashish Kumar.
Dipa Karmakar in Asiad Games
At the 2014 Asiad Games, Dipa Karmakar finished fourth in the vault final with a score of 14.200 behind Hong Un-jong, Oksana Chusovitina and Phan Thi Ha Thanh.
Dipa Karmakar in Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships
The Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships was held in Hiroshima during July 31-August 2, 2015. There Dipa Karmakar won the bronze in women"s vault while finishing 8th in the balance beam event.
Dipa Karmakar in 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
In October 2015, Dipa Karmakar became the first ever Indian to qualify for the final stage of the 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. Dipa Karmakar scored 14.900 in the qualification round to secure her place for the final round, where she finished 5th. In the final, she scored a total of 14.683 to rank 5th.
Dipa Karmakar in 2016 Olympics
Dipa Karmakar became the first ever female gymnast from India to qualify for the Olympics when she qualified for the women`s artistic gymnastics event of 2016 Summer Olympics. Dipa Karmakar is the first Indian gymnast to qualify for the Olympics in 52 years. On 7th August 2016, she became the first Indian Gymnast to enter the finals of the Olympics in any Gymnastic events. Her combined score of 14.850 in Vaults, which included a Produnova Vault, placed her 8th in the overall standing enabling her to enter the finals of Women`s vault event.
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