Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the tributes on Monday for gymnast Dipa Karmakar, who bagged India’s first ever gold medal in a global gymnastic event.
Karmakar, who participated in her first international competition since narrowly missing an Olympic medal in 2016, won the women’s vault at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup in Mersin, Turkey, on Sunday.
The 24-year-old had recovered from a career-threatening knee injury suffered last year as her average score of 14.150 edged out Indonesia’s Rifda Irfanaluthfi (13.400).
“More than the gold, what was important for me was to perform at the optimum level. I am happy I could do that considering the fact at the beginning of the year, I was hobbling back to fitness,” Karmakar was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times newspaper.
“Getting back into top gear makes me believe that my knee has healed completely and I should now be able to go all out at the Asian Games,” she added.
This medal is for everyone who never stopped believing in me! Thank you @Media_SAI, Gymnastic Federation of India, Anant Joshi Sir, @GoSportsVoices, my physio Sajad bhai, Tripura Govt, Nandi sir and @merakiconnect for the endless support and encouragement. pic.twitter.com/FJmiusIW2A
— Dipa Karmakar (@DipaKarmakar) July 9, 2018
The Asian Games take place in Indonesia from August 18 to September 2. Karmakar 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.
Modi was among several politicians and celebrities who took to Twitter to congratulate Karmakar for her achievement. The prime minister wrote:
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) July 8, 2018
Sports minister Rajyavardhan Rathore, who won silver in the 2004 Olympics, also praised the champion gymnast.
Back with a bang and a 🥇#DipaKarmakar is the stuff champions are made of! After battling an injury for the past 2 yrs, she makes a heroic comeback by clinching her first 🥇in the Gymnastics World Challenge Cup in Turkey! Many Congratulations to her👏👏for making 🇮🇳 proud! pic.twitter.com/cylNEBlfkA
— Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) July 8, 2018
Here are some of the other congratulatory messages Karmakar received on Twitter:
Congratulations Dipa Karmakar for winning the gold medal in the vault event of the Gymnastics World Challenge Cup. A special moment for you, for Tripura and for all of India! Keep it up. You do us proud #PresidentKovind
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) July 8, 2018
.@DipaKarmakar is back from injury with a bang by winning a🥇in vault event of Women’s Artistic #Gymnastics at the FIG #World Challenge Cup in #Turkey.
— SAIMedia (@Media_SAI) July 8, 2018
Our #TOPSAthlete has shown the world that only through sheer passion & determination one can excel in #sports. #ProudIndia🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/H2YSxH0Pdy
#Tripura's daughter, #DipaKarmakar does #India proud yet again!
— Biplab Kumar Deb (@BjpBiplab) July 8, 2018
Congratulations to @DipaKarmakar on winning the Gold Medal in the vault event at the FIG World Challenge Cup in Mersin, #Turkey.
You are an inspiration for millions across the world! @Ra_THORe #KheloIndia pic.twitter.com/KUblTvwZWa
#DipaKarmakar is India’s pathbreaker in Gymnastics and will be the reason for our nation’s rise in this discipline in future. Congratulations Dipa for your incredible victory at the Gymnastics World Challenge Cup in Turkey✌️🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/DfGRKoSX8r
— Yashodhara Raje Scindia (@yashodhararaje) July 8, 2018
From suffering with an Anetrior Cruciate Ligament injury after Rio Olympics to an incredible performance at World Challenge Cup in Turkey and winning gold in the Gymnastics World Challenge Cup.
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) July 8, 2018
Congratulations Champion #DipaKarmakar for the gold. So proud of you. Great attitude pic.twitter.com/UIcZsS1cvl
T 2861 - CONGRATULATIONS to @DipaKarmakar .. she has won Gold in the World Championships for gymnastics on the Vault .. you proved to the World that what was wrongly denied to you in the Olympics, you won it here .. !! Proud of you .. we are proud Indians because of you ! 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/BUgmXl8Not
— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) July 8, 2018
By becoming the First Indian gymnast to clinch gold at at a world level event, Dipa Karmakar has sprung into history books. The way she overcame injury & a two year layoff is stuff legends are made of. We are all extremely proud of her feat. Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/f9748KjGaP
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) July 9, 2018
Karmakar though is still some distance away from the dangerous “Produnova Vault” that got her bronze in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Named after Russian gymnast Yelena Produnova, the “Vault of Death” as it is nicknamed was first introduced in 1999, but is so dangerous some want it banned.
It involves a handspring double-front somersault, and has one of the highest degrees of difficulty rating a seven, but only a handful of gymnasts have attempted it in competition.
With inputs from AFP