Close X
Thursday, December 12, 2024
ADVT 
Sports

Dipa Karmakar Becomes First Indian Woman Gymnast To Qualify For Olympic Games

Darpan News Desk IANS, 19 Apr, 2016 01:28 PM
    Dipa Karmakar has created history by becoming the first Indian female gymnast to qualify for the Olympics. The 22-year-old put up a strong performance in the final qualifier, scoring 52.698 points to secure a place in the Rio Olympics 2016.
     
    On Sunday, the 22-year-old became the first Indian woman gymnast to secure an Olympic Games berth in artistic gymnastics at a qualifying event in Rio de Janeiro. 
     
    A few hours later, she won the gold medal in the vaults final, the first time an Indian woman has clinched a gold in a global gymnastics event. 
     
    "Just yesterday, a daughter of India brought fame to the country at the Rio Olympics," the PM said in a speech to students at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University in Jammu, referring to the qualifying event held this weekend that allows Ms Karmakar to claim her place at the Olympics.
     
     
    Dipa is also the first Indian gymnast to qualify for the world's biggest sporting extravaganza after 52 years. Six Indian male gymnasts had last taken part in the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. There was no qualification system in place at that time.
     
     
    She was a reluctant gymnast the first few years — not entirely happy about the repetitive drills, but she never really quit on the sport and till date refuses to take more than a day off from practice.
     
    “Ziddi thi,” Dulal Karmakar remembers.
     
    "These incidents set examples, give us strength," the PM said.
    “If she decided she wanted something, she would just not rest easy till she got it, first National championship, then the India team, then the Commonwealth games, now Olympics qualification. I learnt very early not to take what she declares lightly. She won’t say something unless she’s sure in her mind she can achieve it,” her father, a weightlifting SAI coach, says.
     
     
    India has been absent from Olympic gymnastics events since 1964 when six male athletes competed. There was no qualification system in place at that time.
     
     
    At the world championships in Glasgow last November, Ms Karmakar, who is from Agartala, became the first Indian to qualify for an apparatus final, where she finished fifth on the vault.

    MORE Sports ARTICLES

    Canucks Blow Another Third-period Lead, Fall 3-2 To Red Wings In OvertimeG

    Canucks Blow Another Third-period Lead, Fall 3-2 To Red Wings In OvertimeG
    Gustav Nyquist scored at 3:50 of 3-on-3 overtime Saturday as the Detroit Red Wings defeated Vancouver 3-2 in a game the Canucks controlled 2-0 after 40 minutes.

    Canucks Blow Another Third-period Lead, Fall 3-2 To Red Wings In OvertimeG

    NHL Superstar Carey Price Makes Dreams Come True With Special Delivery In B.C.

    NHL Superstar Carey Price Makes Dreams Come True With Special Delivery In B.C.
    Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price knows it's a tough road from the youth hockey leagues of interior British Columbia to the NHL, so he's trying to make it a little easier for players who are trying to follow in his footsteps.

    NHL Superstar Carey Price Makes Dreams Come True With Special Delivery In B.C.

    Jennings Throws Three TDs, Harris Runs For Two More As Lions Down Tiger-cats

    VANCOUVER — A fast start and a pounding finish ensured that the B.C. Lions are alive and well in the CFL's playoff chase.

    Jennings Throws Three TDs, Harris Runs For Two More As Lions Down Tiger-cats

    Newfoundland To Host Canada Games In 2025, Ontario In 2021 After Dates Switch

    Newfoundland To Host Canada Games In 2025, Ontario In 2021 After Dates Switch
    The government of Newfoundland and Labrador says the province will host the Canada Summer Games in 2025 instead of 2021.

    Newfoundland To Host Canada Games In 2025, Ontario In 2021 After Dates Switch

    Whitecaps Hope To Clinch Home Playoff Game In Final MLS Match Of The Season

    Whitecaps Hope To Clinch Home Playoff Game In Final MLS Match Of The Season
    VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps head into Sunday's final Major League Soccer regular-season game with a chance to chart a new playoff course.

    Whitecaps Hope To Clinch Home Playoff Game In Final MLS Match Of The Season

    Alex Ovechkin Scores Fifth Goal In Five Games As Capitals Down Canucks

    Alex Ovechkin Scores Fifth Goal In Five Games As Capitals Down Canucks
    The Washington Capitals sniper fired shot after shot at Vancouver Canucks goalie Ryan Miller — odd-man rushes, one-timers — but couldn't get anything through.

    Alex Ovechkin Scores Fifth Goal In Five Games As Capitals Down Canucks