It wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that Dipa Karmakar is the current sporting toast of the nation! Apart from medallists PV Sindhu and Sakshi Malik, the 19-year old is the most positive story to come out of Rio for India. Her growing fan base has seen a new addition in USA’s Simone Biles, who won four gold medals including a prolific victory in Dipa’s Vault category. The most successful gymnast in America’s history told Dipa in Rio, that the Federation International de Gymnastique (FIG) should consider re-naming the Produnova vault to the ‘Karmakar Vault’. ‘
Speaking exclusively to Sportskeeda, via telephone, she said, “Firstly I would like to say that there is no better gymnast this world has produced like Simone Biles, she is a champion and she proves it both off and on the mat. When I was practicing one day I met her, and she told me that she has seen my Produnova. She also told me why I should be participating in more tournaments, that would help me learn different other techniques as well. Yes I think she must have been joking when she said ‘Karmakar vault,’ either way it gave me a massive confidence boost.”
“The great part about Simone Biles is that she isn’t one faceted, if you seem so far I have been able to master one style to the fullest. But for her, she is a contender for each and every event, which is exceedingly rare in Gymnastics. I don’t think at least in my generation we will see a more al-rounder gymnast as compared to her,” she added.
Even Dipa’s coach B S Nandi was all praise for Simone Biles, he said, “Even if we don’t take the any other event into consideration, the vault itself she is so clinical. The specific synchronisation of the body and technique is perfect. In gymnastics, technique and body posture is the most important, your technique mid-air and posture while landing. Till date most of the world’s best gymnast were probably exceedingly good in either their landing or technique, but she is in both, which is the rarest of rare qualities in a gymnast. It’s the perfect combination.”
The Tripura based gymnast was recently bestowed with the prestiigious Khel Ratna award, along with Rio medallists PV Sindhu and Sakshi Mallik. Pistol shooter Jitu Rai was also given this particular award.
