Its her birthday today.
India’s first female gymnast to qualify for Olympics Dipa Karmakar turned 23 on Tuesday.
She gave herself and the Indians rooting for her the best birthday gift possible when she qualified for the artistic gymnastics finals. Karmakar finished eighth in the individual vault finals on Sunday night after successfully pulling off the dangerous "Produnova" stunt and securing 14.850 points.
Named after Russian champion Elena Produnova, it's considered so dangerous and has such risks involved, that many want it banned. But Dipa, surprisingly, finds it easy.
"I believe that practice makes perfect, and then it is not difficult anymore," she said. "My coach, (Bisweshwar Nandi) ensured that I practised extensively. In the last three months I did 1000 repetitions of the move," she told PTI.
"Now it is the easiest vault for me."
Dipa Karmakar, who hails from Tripura, India, began her training in gymnastics at the age of 5.
Source: PTI
As a child, it is reported that Dipa Karmakar had flat feet. She said in an interview that she had to work extra hard to curve her feet.
Since 2007, Dipa Karmakar has won 77 medals including 67 golds, in various levels of competitions ranging from state to international.
Dipa Karmakar also created history when she progressed to the finals of the 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics Championship where she eventually finished fifth.
The finals at Rio Olympics 2016 are scheduled on August 14th.
