Deepa Karmakar who recently returned to the action after career threatening injury at the Rio Olympics created history today as she became the first Indian gymnast to win a gold at a global event. The Tripura born gymnast emerged victorious in the vault event of FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup at Mersin, Turkey.
Deepa who narrowly missed on bronze medal at the Rio Olympics, scored 14.150 to win the top prize in Turkey. She had topped the qualification with a score of 13.400. This is also Dipa’s first medal in a World Challenge Cup.
In the first attempt, Dipa had a difficulty score of 5.400 while she collected 8.700 in execution for a total of 14.100. In the second attempt she went better to score 14.200 (5.600+8.600), giving her a total average of 14.150.
Rifda Irfanaluthfi of Indonesia clinched the silver with 13.400 points while Turkey’s Goksu Uctas Sanli took the bronze with a score of 13.200.
Dipa also missed out on another possible medal as she finished fourth in the balance beam event. She had made the balance beam finals after finishing third in the qualification with a score of 11.850.
“This is history and Dipa has created it. She is now the first Indian gymnast to win a gold in a world level event,” Gymnastics Federation of India vice-president Riyaz Ahmed Bhati told PTI reports Times of India.
India’s Rakesh Patra also missed out on a medal in the men’s rings event finals as he finished fourth with a score of 13.650. Rakesh also competed in the parallel bars finals but finished fifth. Dipa and Rakesh are the only two Indians who competed in the tournament.
World Challenge Cup series is an important competition in the calendar of International Gymnastics Federation. There are six events in the World Challenge Cup series this year and this is the fourth leg of the season.
Both Dipa and Rakesh have been included in the 10-member Indian gymnastics team for the upcoming Asian Games.
