Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar who had to withdraw from the 21st edition of the Commonwealth Games following a knee injury said that she is looking forward to give her absolute best and stand on people’s expectation in the upcoming Asian Games.
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She had won a bronze in 2014 edition of CWG but decided to skip the 2018 edition with a knee injury. The gymnast from Agartala has recovered as of now and will be eyeing a medal in Asian games.
“I am absolutely fit, i will try my best to give good performance. I and coach are working hard for the same. We are practicing vault. We are hopeful to perform well and do something good at the Asian Games. Injury is a part and parcel of the sport, especially in Gymnastic. I have recovered well following an injury and now I am concentrating entirely on my practice,” Karmakar quoted to ANI.
Karmakar also talked about why she skipped the Commonwealth Games.
“I did not play in Commonwealth Games because I did not want to risk my injury. I might have bagged the medal, had I participated in the event. However, it was important to recover from my injury first. I did not want to spoil upcoming important events like 2020 Olympic qualification and Asian Games as well as World Championship in 2019 because of one tournament. That is why I withdrew from Commonwealth Games,” she said.
Karmakar was on a verge of creating history but missed on an all important Rio Olympics bronze by a whisker of 0.150 points as American gymnast Simone Biles won her third gold medal. Karamakar admitted that people have had high hopes from her since making a fourth-place finish at the Rio Olympics.
“After making a fourth-place finish at the Olympics, many people have high hopes that I would perform well wherever I go. Now, it is also my responsibility to stand on people’s expectation. I am getting good support. So, I and coach are hoping to give our best,” she said.
Karmakar, however, said that she couldn’t assure anyone of winning a medal in the upcoming Asian Games.
“I can’t assure of clinching a medal. Anything can happen in sports. If I get injured just two minutes prior to the event, then my performance can get affected. But I will try my level best to put a good show,” she said.
The Asian Games is slated to be held from August 18 to September 2 in Indonesia.
