Sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya lauded gymnast Dipa Karmakar on Wednesday and extended best wishes for her future endeavors following her retirement from gymnastics. Karmakar, who became the first Indian woman gymnast to compete at the Olympics and finish a historic fourth, announced her retirement on Monday.
“I got to know about your decision to retire from gymnastics. This decision of yours surprised me a bit, but I have full faith that you must have made this decision keeping in mind the important priorities and experiences of your life. I fully respect your decision. Your gymnastics career, which began at the age of just six, has been extremely inspiring. You have faced many difficulties in this sport and reached the pinnacle of success, making the country proud. Being honored with prestigious awards like the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and the Padma Shri is a testament to your unique contributions,” Mandaviya wrote in a letter to Karmakar.
The minister praised Karmakar’s ‘Produnova’ feat at the Rio Olympics 2016, which added a new chapter to Indian gymnastics. The Tripura native made history by finishing fourth in the women’s vault final, missing the bronze medal by a whisker.
“Your participation in the Olympics has added a new chapter to Indian gymnastics. Becoming the first Indian woman to participate in gymnastics is not only the result of your personal hard work but also a matter of pride for the entire country. Your performance in the Produnova vault, which has been executed by only a few athletes worldwide, has been exceptional. Your achievements have inspired not only sports lovers but especially our daughters to pursue their dreams in various fields. That historic moment at the Olympics, when you missed the medal by just 0.15 points, won the hearts of the entire nation with your grit and dedication,” the Sports minister added.
Dipa made history after clinching India’s first-ever gold medal at the Asian Championships in May this year. With an impressive total score of 13.566 in the women’s vault final, Dipa secured a historic gold medal, while South Korea’s Kim Son Hyang took silver and her compatriot Jyo Kyong Byal won bronze.
Karmakar also won bronze at the Commonwealth Games 2014 in Glasgow, becoming the first Indian female gymnast to do so in the history of the Games. She also secured bronze at the Asian Gymnastics Championships and finished fifth at the 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships—both firsts for the country.