India’s trailblazing gymnast and the first Indian woman to compete at the Olympics, Dipa Karmakar announced her retirement on October 7.
The 31-year-old from Tripura, best known for her fourth-place finish in the vault final at the 2016 Rio Olympics, said it was time to step away from the sport.
“My body is no longer allowing me to compete. I have been facing a lot of issues for a long time and after much thought and consultation, I decided that I should retire. Everything with a beginning comes to an end,” Dipa said. She also added that her retirement does not mean the of her association with gymnastics but the beginning of a new chapter.
“It the time to continue with the next chapter. I am hopeful that I will be able to contribute to the growth of gymnastics in India. I will stand by every athlete so that we can win medals for the country,” the gymnast said.
Hailing from Agartala, Dipa Karmakar made headlines for successfully performing the dangerous Produnova vault, known as the ‘vault of death,’ at the 2016 Rio Games. Despite facing challenges, including injuries and surgeries, Dipa won several medals, including a bronze at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and gold at the 2018 Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Turkey.
Her last victory came in 2021 at the Asian Gymnastics Championships in Tashkent. She was, however, suspended for nearly two years due to a doping violation, with her ban ending in July 2023. Dipa has been honoured with the Padma Shri, Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, and Arjuna Award for her contributions to Indian gymnastics.
Also Read: Mizoram: Governor calls for departmental cooperation in waste management