With 100 days to go for the Rio Games, Dipa Karmakar, the first-ever Indian woman gymnast to qualify for the Olympics, is looking to achieve a new high in the mega event by bettering her rare score of 15.1 in vault.
Dipa, a Commonwealth Games and Asian championship bronze medallist in vault, is keen to grab the opportunity with both hands.
“I was determined to earn an Olympic quota place in the Rio test event after missing it narrowly in the World championship last year. I had to qualify this time. I had this target in mind and I did some hard training under the guidance of my coach.
“Right now I am focused on doing well in the Olympics. I can achieve a better score. I will train hard and do my best to get there…I have to work on my execution,” Dipa told The Hindu here on Wednesday.
Dipa was here to attend a felicitation function organised by the Calcutta Sports Journalists’ Club (CSJC).
Dipa’s coach B.S. Nandi threw more light on the gymnast’s capability. “Since we have 100 days, there is a very good chance that she can improve her score. We will do our best so that she rectifies her mistakes and performs better.
“She can go up to 15.7 or 15.8 in vault. However, a gymnast can get injured anytime during practice and a small injury can affect the training. If everything goes off well, God willing, she can achieve a good score.”
However, the 22-year-old gymnast was modest about her chances in vault. “There are several top gymnasts. They did not come to the test event because they had already qualified for the Olympics. My aim is to go out and give my best performance,” said Agartala-based Dipa.
