‘Logging Off the Mat’: Gymnast Dipa Karmakar Announces Retirement

Gymnast Dipa Karmakar. Photo: dipakarmakarofficial

3 minutes of reading Last update: October 7, 2024 | 18:04 IST

Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar, who missed out on a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics by just 0.15 points, drew a curtain on her 13-year career in a post on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter).

The 31-year-old recalled the beginning of her adventure with sports, thanking her coaches, sponsors and the Tripura state government for supporting her throughout her career. She mentioned that after winning the gold medal at the Tashkent 2024 Asian Championships, she thought she could extend her career a little more, but unfortunately she couldn’t. Ultimately, she asked her followers to show other girls the same love and support they gave her.

Early life

Born on June 9, 1997 in Agartala, Tripura, Dipa Karmakar’s journey into gymnastics began at an early age. Her father, Bisweswar Karmakar, a former national-level gymnast, played a key role in nurturing her talent. Under his tutelage, Dipa improved her skills and developed a deep passion for gymnastics.

Career highlights

Dipa’s breakthrough moment came at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where she secured a bronze medal in the vault relay. This victory was a historic milestone for India and the country’s first-ever medal in women’s gymnastics at the Commonwealth Games. Her outstanding achievements have gained international recognition, establishing her as an emerging talent in the sport.

In 2016, Dipa made history again by qualifying for the Rio Olympics, becoming the first Indian gymnast to compete in the Summer Olympics in almost fifty years. At the Games, she showcased her exceptional skills by placing fourth in the vault final and narrowly missing out on a bronze medal, a moment that remains significant in India’s Olympic history.

Apart from these achievements, Dipa has won gold and bronze medals at various World Cups and Asian Championships. Her extraordinary contribution to Indian sports was recognized in 2016 when she was honored with the Padma Shri and Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna awards.

Dipa Karmakar’s list of achievements

Year
Achievements

2014

Bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games (Treasury)

2016

Fourth place at the Rio Olympics (Vault)

2017

Gold medal at the Asian Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships (Vault)

2019

Gold medal at the Asian Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships (Vault)

Many times

Gymnast of the Year awarded by the Gymnastics Federation of India

2016 Arjuna’s Award

2017 Padma Shri

First publication: October 7, 2024 | 17:52 IST