Tripura Cricket Association helpless, can't help Dipa Karmakar

As the Tripura Sports Council (TSC) secretary, Kamal Saha first spotted seven-year-old Dipa Karmakar and took steps to shift her from the ill-equipped Vivekananda Byayamgar to the Netaji Subhash Regional Coaching Centre (NSRCC) in Agartala.

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna winnner gymnast Dipa Karmakar and coach Dronacharya award recipient Bishweshwar Nandi being welcomed on their arrival at the airport in Agartala.

Tripura Cricket Association (TCA) president Kamal Saha, who played a crucial role in shaping Dipa Karmakar’s career, is keen to back the ace gymnast in her quest for an Olympic medal but is feeling helpless because of the Lodha Committee recommendations.

As the Tripura Sports Council (TSC) secretary, Saha first spotted seven-year-old Dipa and took steps to shift her from the ill-equipped Vivekananda Byayamgar to the Netaji Subhash Regional Coaching Centre (NSRCC) in Agartala.

READ: >Lodha recommendations: Bold but dreamy?

“When Dipa won a gold medal in balance beam in the North East Sports Festival, I spoke to her coach Soma Nandi and discussed the idea of the talented kid being shifted to the NSRCC, which had better equipment. I told Soma that she should not feel bad as Dipa would train under (Soma’s husband) Bishwshwar Nandi. Good that she agreed,” Saha told Sportstar.

“Since 2000 Dipa is being trained by Bishweshwar and has progressed well.”

Even Dipa’s father Dulal Karmakar acknowledges Saha’s contribution. “Other than Bishweshwar Nandi, Kamal Saha is the man who supported Dipa all these years,” sad Karmakar.

When Dipa became the first Indian woman gymnast to win a medal in the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, the TCA, with Saha as its president, honoured the gymnast with a cash award of Rs 15 lakh. The TCA also felicitated Bishweshwar Nandi with a cash award of Rs 5 lakh.

However, when Dipa returned home after securing a creditable fourth place in the Rio Olympics, 74-year-old Saha could do nothing on behalf of the TCA. “Because of the > Lodha Committee recommendations , even though we have got enough money we cannot do anything to help Dipa or any other sport,” said Saha.

On the other hand, the TCA is doing every bit to promote cricket in the state.

Among several initiatives, the TCA is upgrading its present ground. “We are spending Rs 2 crore for renovation of the players’ dressing rooms, VIP area and other facilities and Rs 1 crore for beautification. We expect bigger teams to play here this season due to the neutral venue specification in the Ranji Trophy,” said Saha.

The TCA has appointed R. Sridhar as the head coach of the state team and has started pre-season training for the players.

Meanwhile, the TCA has set in motion the process for the construction of a new state-of-the-art stadium, worth around Rs 165 crore, to make Agartala a new Indian Premier League (IPL) destination.