At the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, a young girl from Tripura’s Agartala vaulted her way to national stardom. Quite literally! Having perfected the Produnova vault, Dipa Karmakar made India proud by becoming the first Indian female gymnast to compete at the Olympics. Even though she missed out on a medal by the barest of margins, she won the hearts of her fellow Indians with a stunning display of athleticism and perseverance.
Karmakar, who is currently preparing for a comeback to gymnastics, was the chief guest at the closing ceremony of Techno Olympica Knights, an inter-school sports event featuring 67 schools across West Bengal, on December 4. On the sidelines of the event at the Techno India Grounds, Salt Lake, Karmakar spoke about how to develop young athletes, why gender disparity has reduced in Indian sports, her quest for Olympic gold and much more. My Kolkata has the key insights.
The role of events like Techno Olympica Knights in developing future athletes
Karmakar hands over one of the prizes at the event alongside Manashi Roychowdhury, Dibyendu Barua and Joydeep Karmakar Soumyajit Dey
Speaking about Techno Olympica Knights, Karmakar said: “It’s a great initiative that Techno India has started. Having so many schools take part and so many students express themselves across various disciplines at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) facilities will help grow the next generation of star athletes.” Karmakar also spoke warmly of the support youngsters are getting, be it from their schools, coaches, teachers and even their parents. “It’s a great way to develop sports at the grassroots. I hope more students come forward, and that there are more competitions like this… You never know, a future medalist may be in our midst already!”
Message to female athletes and children in general
Sporting facilities for young boys and girls are ‘almost equal’ in India today, feels Karmakar TT Archives
After a fantastic performance that saw India cross the 100 medals mark at this year’s Asian Games, Karmakar believes the difference between boys and girls in sports is all about perception and mindset: “Just take a look at Sheetal Devi, the 16-year-old para-archer. Today, there are so many female athletes who will inspire confidence in children.” Sports should be something everyone picks up, irrespective of their gender, feels the 2015 Arjuna Award winner. “These days the facilities for young boys and girls are almost equal, and the support they are receiving from their schools is exemplary. While education is important, sports help to develop discipline. If you’re truly committed to sports, success will follow you. It’s about putting in the work with what is available to you.”
Dealing with injury setbacks and what’s next for India’s gymnastic sensation
Karmakar explained the importance of mental conditioning while recovering from injuries TT Archives
From her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) to her meniscus to her knees, the 2017 Padma Shri awardee has faced a series of injuries since the heights of Rio 2016. “Injuries are a part of an athlete’s life, and it’s something you have to accept. I’ve had a gruelling time coming back from each injury, but I’m hoping to come out of my latest one by with a stronger return to the international stage,” said Karmakar, who was back at the gym two days after her first ACL tear in spite of doctor’s orders to stay away from strenuous activities “I couldn’t stop myself. I needed to be in familiar surroundings to keep myself mentally healthy, or I’d have broken down. I didn’t go through my routine but I went to the gym within two days of getting out of the hospital just to get a feel of the environment I wanted to be in,” narrated Karmakar.
Physiotherapy was a crucial part of Karmakar’s recovery, but she also cited how a mental conditioning coach is essential to prevent the mind from wandering besides channelising focus towards what one can control. Speaking about what lies next for her, Karmakar said: “My next target is Paris 2024. First, I have to qualify. But I hope to finish my career on a high with the medal I’ve always dreamt of.”
