Scripting history, Dipa Karmakar becomes first Indian gymnast to clinch gold at Gymnastics World Cup

New Delhi, July 9: Clinching the gold medal at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup, Dipa Karmakar fulfilled many dreams. Scripting history, Dipa Karmakar became the first Indian gymnast to clinch gold at a global event.

The athlete returned to action after a layoff of nearly two years due to an injury. The 24-year-old from Tripura, who had finished fourth in vault event in the 2016 Rio Olympics, scored 14.150 to win the top prize. She had topped the qualification with a score of 13.400.

Dipa had suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury after the Rio Olympics and had undergone a surgery. She was initially confident of making a comeback at the Commonwealth Games but rehabilitation took more time than expected and she missed the Gold Coast event.

While Dipa Karmakar grabbed the shining gold, PM Narendra Modi expressed his best wishes for the ace athlete by tweeting, “India is proud of @DipaKarmakar! Congratulations to her on winning a well-deserved Gold in the vault event at the FIG World Challenge Cup in Mersin, Turkey. This win is a prime example of her tenacity and never-say-die attitude.”

Union Minister of Sports Rajyavardhan Rathore also congratulated Dipa Karmakar on winning and making India proud on the international platform.

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan is all praises for Gymnast Dipa Karmakar after her stellar performance at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup in Turkey. The star, proud of Dipa Karmakar's achievement, tweeted, "T 2861 - CONGRATULATIONS to @DipaKarmakar .. she has won Gold in the World Championships for gymnastics on the Vault .. you proved to the World that what was wrongly denied to you in the Olympics, you won it here .. !! Proud of you .. We are proud Indians because of you! ????"

World Challenge Cup series is an important competition in the calendar of International Gymnastics Federation. There are six events in the World Challenge Cup series this year and this is the fourth leg of the season.

Both Dipa and Rakesh Patra have been included in the 10-member Indian gymnastics team for the upcoming Asian Games.