Commonwealth Games 2018: Why Dipa Karmakar is not participating in Gold Coast

Dipa Karmakar

What's the story?

Dipa Karmakar, the first-ever female gymnast who represented India in the Olympics 2016 is not participating in this year's Commonwealth Games due to major knee injury that she sustained during a practice session ahead of the Asian Gymnastic Championship 2017. She went through a surgery for her knee and that is why she withdrew from Commonwealth Games 2018.

In case you didn't know?

Dipa Karmakar became the first Indian woman gymnast to achieve a bronze medal in Commonwealth Games 2014, Glasgow. She also secured a bronze medal in Asian Games 2015 and held the fourth position in Women's Vault Gymnastics event of Rio Olympics 2016. She received Padma Shri in 2016 for all of her hard work and success.

The heart of the matter

Bisweshwar Nandi, Dipa's coach has been a full supporter during her recovery. "Although she has almost recovered, her injury has not fully healed as of yet. At this stage, she cannot participate in the Commonwealth Games. But she will be ready for the Asian Games," Nandi had told Sportskeeda.

While practising a vault, she injured her knee badly and immediately went through Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) surgery. She will miss out on the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast this year. However, leading India's charge in gymnastics in Gold Coast will be the very capable Aruna Budda Reddy.

What's next?

Dipa Karmakar is out from Commonwealth Games 2018 but she has been eagerly waiting for her recovery and hopes to be back on track in the coming Asian games.

Author's Take

Dipa missing out on the Commonwealth Games is indeed a huge blow for India as she would have been a definite contender for the gold medal. However, in case of such injuries, one should not rush things and only return on full recovery.