Star Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar is set to participate in the selection trials for the Asian Games, which will be held in Bhubaneswar on July 11 and 12.
Karmakar rose to global fame in 2016 when she finished fourth in the vault final at the Rio Games. It was the first time an Indian gymnast had made the final of any gymnastics event at the Olympics. The Indian grabbed attention for executing the Produnova, one of the most difficult and dangerous routines on the vault.
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She was unable to reach the dizzy heights again due to injury. In another huge blow, Karmakar failed a dope test and was banned by the International Testing Agency (ITA) in February this year. Her out of competition sample collected on October 11, 2021 returned positive for higenamine -- a prohibited substance under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code.
The ITA handed her a 21-month ban, which will end on on July 10.
Karmakar named in the core group
In May this year, the 29-year-old was named in the list of core probables by the Gymnastic Federation of India despite still serving a ban. With the selection trials set to begin a day after her ban ends, the gymnast from Tripura is eligible to participate.
— Dipa Karmakar (@DipaKarmakar) February 4, 2023
"It is confirmed I will be participating in the trials," she told PTI. "I have been training in Agartala last few months, so hope for the best."
Dipa’s coach Bishweshwar Nandi, who helped her to a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, said she had been practicing for the last two to three months and was focused on doing well at the trials.
“For better evaluation, a two-stage opportunity will be provided to the gymnasts for assessment in Individual Apparatus,” GFI stated on Sunday.
Who are the other gymnasts in contention for Asian Games?
Pranati Nayak, who represented India at the Tokyo Olympics, is one of the leading contenders for the Asian Games. Youngsters Pranati Das and Protistha Samanta will also pariticpate in the selection trials.
In the men's field, Rakesh Patra, Yogeshwar Singh are the leading contenders.
How has Dipa Karmakar performed at the Asian Games in the past?
Karmakar is yet to win a medal at the continental event. Like the Rio Games, she finished fourth in the vault final at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.
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