NEW DELHI: Dipa Karmakar took baby steps towards regaining her fitness as she won gold in the vault event at the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup in Mercin (Turkey) on Sunday.
Karmakar, who has not taken part at a competitive event since finishing fourth at the 2016 Olympics, notched up a score of 14.150 to walk away with the top prize. She was the favourite going into the final after she had topped qualification with a score of 13.400.
This medal, her first at this level, represents an important pit-stop for the 24-year-old as she continues her comeback from an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury she sustained after her Rio sojourn.
In her first attempt in the final, the Tripura girl had a difficulty score of 5.400 while collecting 8.700 in execution for a total of 14.100. She bagged 14.200 in her second attempt (5.600+8.600) for an average of 14.150. Rifda Irfanaluthfi (13.400) and Goksu Uctas (13.200) finished second and third.
While Karmakar’s score was significantly below her mark at the Olympics (15.066), this event was all about giving her confidence and match-practice before Asian Games.
She had specifically requested the Gymnastics Federation of India to send her to the event, as it would serve as an important exposure trip before stiffer challenges in store. She had spoken about being confident after making the Asian Games squad, adding that this win would only give her more confidence.
“I have become much more confident since the time of the Commonwealth Games,” she had told another publication before leaving for Turkey.
“Last year was a terrible one. I had to go through rehabilitation for nearly nine months, and I could not practice any gymnastics routines... I was clear about one thing. When I go to my next competition, I would not go as a tourist nor would I be satisfied by reaching the final. I would only go if I know that I can give my best, and if I am capable of winning a medal.” Karmakar has now achieved what she had set out do in the short term.
The other Indian at the three-day event, Rakesh Patra, fell agonisingly short to finish in fourth place. Competing in the men’s rings final, Patra — who finished eighth in Gold Coast — finished with an average score of 13.650, 0.650 behind Dutchman Yuri van Gelder.
Patra, a relative veteran who has taken part at the Worlds, will also be in action in Jakarta. While the World Challenge Cup is a few rungs below the Worlds in terms of prestige and importance, it is still an important event in the calendar of FIG.
sports@newindianexpress.com