At 22 and 27 years of age, Dipa Karmakar and P.R. Sreejesh have been trendsetters in their own way for their respective sport. On Saturday, they were rewarded for their hard work with the Arjuna Award here.
Dipa became the first Indian female gymnast to win medals at the Commonwealth Games last year and followed it up with another bronze at the Asian Championships in Hiroshima recently. One of only 3-4 gymnasts in the world to practice the difficult Produnova vault — a double frontal vault — Dipa’s achievements are significant given the constant administrative wranglings and lack of training camps.
In fact, for a long time, the Gymnastics Federation of India was unrecognised, affecting the athletes’ practice.
“I learnt the double vault for three months before performing at the Commonwealth Games. Others do it for years before even trying it out in competition. Last year, for almost eight months, we did not have a camp whereas you need to practice at least 10 months in a year to be a serious medal prospect in the World Championships.
“If we can still produce results, you can imagine our success rate with proper training. I can say with confidence we can win medals at major events and be regulars at Olympics,” Dipa said at a dinner hosted for the awardees here on Friday night.
Dipa’s claims have substance. At the 2014 Asian Games, where she finished fourth, the only ones ahead of the Agartala girl were Olympic medallists. At Hiroshima, again, the gold and silver winners were champions at the Youth Olympic Games with the difference between gold and bronze being less than 0.2 points.
“Such performances give me hope of doing even better. A medal at the upcoming World Championships (Glasgow in October) will ensure an Olympic spot and though it won’t be easy, I now know I can match up with the best,” says the shy girl.
Sreejesh, meanwhile, has created history in his own way. Coming from Kerala, a state that boasts of multiple winners across sports, being the first male hockey player to be conferred the Arjuna is recognition of a brilliant run of form for the past couple of years.
Considered among the best goalkeepers in the world today, Sreejesh’s journey from the backwaters of Kerala to the Ashoka Hall is one of perseverance and grit.
“We were in Europe when the announcement came and it did not actually sink in then. Today, when we went for the dress rehearsal at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, I finally realise the honour and am now feeling a little nervous but excited,” he said.
Hero of India’s Asian Games triumph and instrumental in the team’s silver-medal performance at the CWG, named best goalkeeper at the Champions Trophy and shortlisted for the FIH goalkeeper-of-the-Year, Sreejesh knows the stakes are high.
“An individual award in a team game is a huge honour, a recognition of your performances over the years. But it is not possible without the team. I am here today because of the team’s efforts and results. This is for the entire team and I am sure it will spur not only me but the entire team to do even better in upcoming tournaments and, most importantly, the Olympics,” he added.