NEW DELHI: “You could trod me within the very dust / However nonetheless, like mud, I will rise,” wrote American poet Maya Angelou in her timeless work Nonetheless I Rise. Would not it look as if Dipa Karmakar, undoubtedly the brightest title in Indian gymnastics, is the protagonist in Angelou’s verses?
From battling numerous challenges, restricted infrastructure in her house state of Tripura, accidents, and the load of expectations to scripting historical past on the worldwide stage, Dipa’s story is just one of its form. However why examine it to Angelou’s feminist poem?
“In 2011, there was a international coach — although I gained’t take the title — who stated that ladies couldn’t obtain a lot as a result of, in response to him, ladies solely come to nationwide camps to move the time, roam round, and eat. That day, I didn’t really feel good in any respect as an athlete. As a result of nobody leaves their household and involves a camp simply to roam and eat,” Dipa recollects throughout an unique interplay with TimesofIndia.com.
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Nevertheless, that maligned comment, reasonably than breaking her spirit, ignited a hearth inside. Guided by her long-time coach Bishweshwar Nandi, she set her sights on a daring transfer — the Produnova vault, one of the tough and harmful feats in gymnastics.
“Sir stated, ‘Why can’t we do it? We will do it too.’ That’s after we slowly determined to decide on the Produnova vault. Earlier than that, I had competed in a number of World Cups and reached vault finals on the Commonwealth and Asian Video games. However I needed extra — I needed a medal,” Dipa recollects. “Ladies’s gymnastics in India had no main worldwide medals then. That’s when Sir advised me, ‘In case you can grasp this vault…’ And I advised him, ‘Sir, no matter you ask me to do, I’m prepared — only for the sake of bringing a medal for us.’”
From Tripura to vaulting desk: Dipa Karmakar’s rise
The journey of a lady from a small city in Tripura to the grand stage of the Olympics was something however simple.
Not like athletes from larger cities with entry to world-class amenities, Dipa skilled in a spot the place gymnastics infrastructure was nominal, and assist system involving physiotherapists and sports activities medical doctors was nearly nonexistent.
But, towards all odds, she rose.
Her tryst with gymnastics started on the age of 5 and a half on the Vivekananda Byamagar Membership beneath the steerage of coach Soma Nandi.
It was her father’s imaginative and prescient that led her to the game. Coming from a household that inspired athletic pursuits, Dipa and her elder sister, Puja Karmakar, have been each launched to sports activities. Nevertheless, whereas Puja ultimately moved on, Dipa discovered her ardour in gymnastics.
Her first style of victory got here in 2002 on the North East Video games in Agartala, the place she gained her first gold medal, marking the start of a journey that might solely take her to heights no Indian lady gymnast had reached earlier than.
Recognising her potential, Kamal Saha, the then sports activities secretary of Tripura, suggested a shift to a better-equipped sports activities complicated.
This resolution influenced a major turning level in Dipa’s life as her coach additionally determined it was time for a change, and that’s when she started coaching beneath Bishweshwar Nandi, the mentor who would form her right into a world-class gymnast.
At that stage, the Olympics was a distant dream. Not like at this time, the place younger gymnasts aspire to Olympic glory, Dipa’s focus was easy — profitable a nationwide gold medal.
“At first, I by no means dreamt that I might go to the Olympics. Again then, my solely objective was to win a gold medal on the nationwide degree,” she admits.
On the age of 14, she competed on the 2007 Junior Nationals in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, profitable a formidable haul of three golds and two silvers.
This success earned her a spot within the nationwide camp for the 2010 Commonwealth Video games in Kolkata. And profiting from the chance, she reached the vault remaining on the Commonwealth Video games, adopted by one other remaining look on the Asian Video games.
These experiences made her consider that she belonged on the worldwide stage, and from that time, the chase for medals actually started.
Highway to mastering Produnova: A leap of religion
Mastering the Produnova vault, one of the harmful strikes in gymnastics, is not only any athlete’s cup of tea.
An intimate affair with the notorious “vault of loss of life” started step-by-step, as she slowly constructed the inspiration for what would turn into her signature transfer.
If Dipa’s phrases are to be believed, it took her eight to 9 months of rigorous coaching to good, although she tried it a lot earlier — inside simply three to five months.
When the time got here for her first actual try, even the chief coach hesitated.
“When the chief coach was requested, he stated, ‘Not at this time; we’ll strive it tomorrow!’ That made me so offended that I stated, ‘In case you don’t let me try it tomorrow, I’ll come alone and do it myself.’ Listening to that, they obtained just a little scared,” she recollects with amusing.
The hesitation was justified. The Produnova is among the riskiest vaults in gymnastics, involving two and a half somersaults. A single miscalculation in timing may result in devastating, even life-threatening, accidents. However Dipa was undeterred.
“Solely 5 folks on the earth have carried out this vault, and I’m the third amongst them. Naturally, there’s some degree of danger concerned. However I used to be so assured that I knew I may do it and that I needed to do it.”
By way of medals, her first main breakthrough got here on the 2014 Commonwealth Gymnastics Championships, the place she clinched a gold and a silver. Nevertheless, the watch for a profitable Produnova touchdown went on.
With confidence at an all-time excessive, she entered the 2014 Commonwealth Video games, decided to ship her finest efficiency.
However destiny had different plans.
“On the primary day, throughout the {qualifications}, I fractured my leg — it was a extreme crack. My leg swelled up badly, however someway, regardless of the ache, I certified in seventh place for the finals,” Dipa recollects.
The finals have been a make-or-break second — not only for her, however for Indian ladies’s gymnastics. A medal may preserve the game alive within the nation; failure may imply fading into obscurity for the Indian ladies’s gymnast workforce.
With Dipa’s leg in excruciating ache, the medical doctors strongly suggested towards competing.
“They advised me, ‘Quit, Didi. Dipa, how will you do it? It’s not attainable,’” Dipa recounts. “However my teammates motivated me so much, saying, ‘Didi, you need to do it!’”
Dipa lastly determined to go forward. And for the primary time in her profession, she efficiently landed the Produnova vault, securing her first Commonwealth Video games medal.
Within the following years, she continued to push boundaries, profitable a bronze on the 2015 Asian Championships, ending 4th on the Asian Video games, and securing fifth place on the World Championships. Then got here the Rio Olympics qualifier — the place she not solely booked her ticket to the largest sporting occasion on the earth but in addition gained gold on the check occasion.
For Dipa, mastering the Produnova was extra than simply about proving herself. It was about proving each doubter mistaken. It was about displaying that an Indian lady gymnast may stand on par with one of the best on the earth.
At the moment, when individuals who as soon as dismissed her now say, “We’re happy with you, Dipa,” she considers that her best victory.
Altering the face of Indian gymnastics
“Earlier than Rio, nobody knew Dipa Karmakar, nobody knew gymnastics, and nobody knew Tripura. After Rio, these three issues obtained recognition. I consider that that is my greatest achievement — gymnastics was a sport that everybody used to name a circus, however now folks don’t say that anymore. Now, it is a sport that may form the careers of kids within the nation,” a proud Dipa tells TimesofIndia.com.
Her fourth-place end on the 2016 Rio Olympics could not have introduced house a medal, but it surely remodeled the topography of Indian gymnastics.
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From being an ignored self-discipline, typically dismissed as mere acrobatics, gymnastics is now a reputable profession path for younger athletes.
And Tripura, a small northeastern state “typically mistaken for being a part of Bangladesh”, is a recognised hub of expertise.
“Listening to that the proficient youngsters in Tripura have come ahead actually makes me blissful. In India, the way in which ladies’s participation in gymnastics was low, it has now risen. There’s a lot curiosity amongst ladies in gymnastics — whether or not it is about performing or profitable medals — that I really feel very proud realizing that after the Olympics, so many adjustments have occurred.”
With recognition got here fame, one thing Dipa by no means actively sought however humbly embraced.
“Earlier, folks didn’t method for selfies, however now they arrive for selfies and autographs. I’m like Tripura’s golden woman. And assembly Sachin Tendulkar, Amitabh Bachchan, going to KBC, and assembly Prime Minister Modi Sir — these experiences have been superb.”
But, regardless of all of the accolades, Dipa stays grounded in actuality. For her, desires are necessary, however they’re solely significant when become actuality.
“I don’t like to only dream; I desire to stay in actuality, however with out desires, actuality can’t occur both. Many desires in my life have been fulfilled, however not all the things has come true — some desires stay unfulfilled. Olympic and Asian Video games medals are nonetheless there, however I hope one thing good will occur as a result of these desires have stayed with me.”
Retirement name: The ultimate bow
On an odd night in October 2024, Dipa, on the age of 31, shreds an unexpected announcement of her retirement, marking the tip of a journey that noticed her defy the chances, shatter stereotypes, and place Indian gymnastics on the worldwide map.
As a five-year-old with flat ft, she was advised she would by no means make it as a gymnast. However dedication proved her stronger than biology.
Over a 25-year profession, Dipa’s achievements have been groundbreaking.
Nevertheless, behind the medals and milestones was a battle together with her personal physique.
“My physique was not cooperating in any respect; I had undergone two surgical procedures. The final 5-6 years have been actually robust — my life was in a nasty place. After the Olympics, my down interval began, and after two knee surgical procedures, my knees have been in actually dangerous situation. Practising whereas taking painkillers day by day was not simple. I had two ACL surgical procedures, my shoulder was injured, and simply earlier than the Asian Championship, I cracked my wrist. My ankle has been damaged so many occasions, I don’t even know — not less than 20-25 occasions. When your physique doesn’t assist you to go on, simply pushing by doesn’t carry any profit,” Dipa shares, reflecting on making an abrupt retirement name.
Nonetheless, it was not so abrupt on her facet. The ultimate resolution got here after Dipa gained gold on the 2024 Asian Championships. She mentioned the opportunity of retirement together with her coach and household. The decision was clear: it was time to let go.
“I used to cry throughout follow day by day due to the ache in my legs and palms. Vaulting was my essential occasion, and after I couldn’t do vaulting anymore, nothing else appeared to matter. Sir stated it was one of the best time to retire. By God’s grace, I grew to become the nationwide champion six occasions. I’ll not have gained an Olympic or Asian Video games medal, however I would like the subsequent technology to attain that.”
“Naturally, my household was very upset and advised me to strive once more if I may. However I advised them — that is the situation of my legs. My father was a weightlifting coach at SAI. However mother and father are at all times mother and father — they naturally get nervous. If I hadn’t had the surgical procedures on my palms and if my physique had allowed me, then retirement would by no means have been a dialogue,” an emotional Dipa provides.
Life after retirement: A brand new chapter begins
For Dipa Karmakar, although, retirement hasn’t meant slowing down — it’s been fairly the alternative.
“Since retirement, I’ve turn into a lot busier. Earlier, it was all about follow, relaxation, and residing a strictly disciplined life — all the things, together with meals, was very strict. Now, I eat no matter I can get. I really like meals, particularly fish and meat — I can’t stay with out them. I additionally love sweets. I’m a foodie. However as a result of strain at work, I don’t get time to relaxation within the afternoon. Life has fully modified.”
Now serving because the Deputy Director of the Tripura Sports activities Division, she finds herself in a distinct form of strain — someplace in the course of balancing administrative duties together with her ardour for teaching younger gymnasts.
“I wasn’t as lively on social media earlier than, however now I’m rather more lively. Now, I can spend extra time with my household. Life has turn into rather more undisciplined; I’m gaining weight as a result of I eat a lot, and I’m questioning what is going to occur to me in future (laughs).”
However past the newfound freedom in meals and way of life, what worries her most is the shifting mindset of younger athletes at this time.
“These days, youngsters at all times suppose short-term; they’ll’t suppose long-term, and so they need issues to be achieved shortly. However after I have a look at my very own life, I really feel that the quicker you get one thing, the quicker it slips away. There’s a saying that when you get one thing with out struggling, you gained’t perceive the worth of it. So, they really want to construct their psychological power. Earlier, there have been quite a lot of youngsters within the subject, however now the numbers have considerably decreased.”
Along with her a long time of expertise, Dipa hopes to provide again to Indian gymnastics by mentoring the subsequent technology. However balancing it together with her authorities position is a problem.
“I need to coach youngsters within the coming days. I get pleasure from teaching, however I do not understand how far I’ll go as a result of I’m at the moment the Deputy Director of the Tripura Sports activities Division. So, I don’t understand how a lot I can handle as a result of if I sit within the workplace, it is going to be tough for me.”
Nevertheless, she believes that actual studying occurs on the sector, not simply in places of work or assembly rooms.
“A sportsperson can actually perceive a state of affairs virtually by being within the subject, identical to I discovered by observing my coach. So, I hope to proceed working within the subject. Proper now, I’m within the subject, with courses within the afternoon and workplace within the morning. I’ve taken just a few children beneath my wing, and I consider it is necessary to give attention to grassroots growth as a result of if the grassroots degree is robust, the kids will develop as much as be superb.”
A legacy of braveness
All through her extended sports activities profession, Dipa had just one coach — Bishweshwar Nandi — whose mentorship was the fixed thread in her pursuit of excellence.
Together with devoted workforce members like Bhavna Ma’am and Sajid Da (the physio), she skilled a interval of unparalleled unity and organisation, particularly from 2013 to 2016.
That period was not nearly coaching, in Dipa’s phrases, it was a few shared perception that collectively, they may overcome any problem.
“In the course of the time I used to be studying the Produnova, I used to be very scared,” Dipa concludes. “Ideas like ‘Why isn’t it going proper day-to-day?’ stored coming to my thoughts. However for me, it was clear: ‘Dipa, you need to do that! It’s important to show that ladies can obtain one thing.'”
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