Dipa Karmakar wins gold in Gymnastics World Cup

Returning to action after a long lay-off of nearly two years due to injury, India’s premier gymnast Dipa Karmakar clinched the gold medal in the vault event of FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup at Mersin, Turkey, on Sunday.

This is Dipa Karmakar’s first medal in a World Challenge Cup.

Ace gymnast Dipa Karmakar, who missed the Rio Olympics bronze medal by a whisker, took the women’s vault gold medal and claimed the fourth place in balance beam at the Mersin World Challenge Cup here on Sunday. Dipa became the first Indian to claim a gold medal in an elite international event.

The performance should propel Dipa, who was out of action for about two years due to a leg injury, to work harder for the upcoming Asian Games.

Dipa, who topped the vault qualification with 13.4, improved her performance by a few notches to garner 14.15 points and secure the top honour in her pet event.

Later, she finished a creditable fourth in balance beam after tying on 12.1 with Azerbaijan’s Yuliya Inshina. In the qualification, Dipa was third with 11.85.

Turkey’s Goksu Sanli bagged the gold with a score of 12.55.

Rakesh Patra, another gymnast who has been selected for the Asiad, was placed fourth in Roman Rings finals after scoring 13.65. Patra was sixth in parallel bars with 14 points.

Ibrahim Colak of Turkey got the gold with 15.1. Canadian Samuel Zakutney also scored 14 to take the fifth spot.

Andrei Vasile Muntean of Romania won the event with 14.9.