Olympian Dipa Karmakar makes a remarkable comeback as she secured a spot in the nine-member Indian gymnastics squad for the Asian Games 2023.
The squad was announced by the Gymnastics Federation of India following the completion of selection trials held at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
Karmakar, who returned after serving a 21-month doping ban, topped the trials with a score of 47.05.
What did Dipa Karmakar's coach say about her performance?
“It is not easy to make a comeback after such a long time, so I am very happy,” Dipa Karmakar’s coach Bishweshwar Nandi told PTI.
“She still is not at her best and has slight pain in her right knee but there is time and I am sure, she will only get better from here on.”
The Indian gymnastics team for the Asian Games comprises five men and four women. Karmakar's impressive performance and successful comeback after the doping ban highlight her determination and resilience.
Pranati Das (45.80) finished second while Protistha Samanta finished third. Meanwhile, another Olympian, Pranati Nayak, secured her place in the team based on her score at the Asian Championships 2023.
In the men's category, Haryana’s Yogeshwar Singh (76.30) and Odisha’s Rakesh Patra (76.20) and Tapan Mohanty (74.60) grabbed the first three spots respectively.
Satyajit Mondal, who participated in the Commonwealth Games 2022, secured his place despite suffering an injury during the trials. His final selection will depend on his fitness ahead of the Asian Games, with Anas Ali Shaikh named as the reserve athlete.
However, Ashish Kumar, who boasts of winning India's only medal in gymnastics in the Asian Games, failed to make it into the team.
Indian gymnastics team for Asian Games 2023
Men: Yogeshwar Singh, Rakesh Patra, Tapan Mohanty, Gaurav Kumar, Satyajit Mondal.
Reserves: Anas Ali Shaikh (reserve for Satyajit Mondal), Saif Tamboli
Women: Dipa Karmakar, Pranati Das, Pranati Nayak, Protistha Samanta
Reserve: Bidisha Gayen