After her commendable feat of Bronze Medal at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, 2014, ace gymnast Dipa Karmakar hasn’t taken it easy one single bit. The Tripura girl is busy with her acrobatics in training camp at Indira Gandhi Statium in New Delhi for the Asian Games scheduled to be held in Icheon, South Korea. Amid her busy schedule, Dipa opens up in an exclusive interview with Tripurainfoway.com about her journey from Vivekananda Byamagar in Agartala to CWG in Glasgow, UK and beyond.

TIWN: You have achieved a great feat at the Commonwealth Games. You are now an internationally acclaimed sports star. How does it feel?

Dipa: Well, it obviously feels good, it feels great. But I don’t have much time to relish it now. We have the Asian Games ahead in September and I am trying really hard to bring something better for my country.

TIWN: How do you feel about your bronze at the CWG?

Dipa: I feel I have done good, but I should have done better. That’s one reason why I feel my achievement is not complete yet. I am looking forward to clinch a gold or a silver at the Asian Games.

TIWN: Where did you start your career in gymnastics?

Dipa: I started gymnastics under my former coach Soma Nandi at Vivekananda Byamagar in Agartala in 1999. I was later shifted to the Netaji Subhash Regional Coaching Centre (NSRCC) under my current coach Bisweswar Nandi.

Photo :Dipa Karmakar with her parents at her Agartala home with Commonwealth Games Bronze Medal  before leaving for Delhi on August 7

TIWN: Would you like to say something about your way till now from Vivekananda Byamagar?

Dipa: Well, it hasn’t been a very smooth one for sure. But I got constant support from my coach.

I bagged gold medal in the Northeast Sports Meet at Agartala in 2002. I got four medals from the National School Games, 2011 at Ranchi. I have participated in 12 international events till date including Perth, Scotland and Glasgow.

However, things didn’t go that good at the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010. I couldn’t get much success at the Asian Games as well.

I didn’t think much of the failures anyway as I had umpteen number of events ahead to focus on and I bounced back in the 2011 National games with 5 gold medals.

And here I am.

Photo : Dipa Karmakar with her coach Bisweshwar Nandi and father Dulal Karmakar at TRIPURAINFOWAY Agartala Office on August 6

TIWN: Well, how would you describe the days after your failure at the Delhi Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games? How did you put yourself together for this splendid performance at the Glasgow CWG?

Dipa: During my 2010 CWG camp, my coach wasn’t with me. I had to consult him over telephone and it was really tough after the event concluded without much success for me.

I had teach myself to be tough every single day and I am sure it was no easy task.

My coach gave me enough boost after that. I am seriously thankful to my coach, the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Tripura, the Tripura Sports Council, Tripura Gymnastics Association, Gymnastics Federation of India, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and all others who kept their trust on me.

TIWN: Often we come to hear that the infrastructure for gymnastics and acrobatics sports in Tripura isn’t compatible with the national standard. What do you think?

Dipa: I think it is alright. We have state-of-art equipments now. Chief Minister Manik Sarkar assured me during my visit to him after my return from Glasgow that the state government would install a new foam pit in a new facility of the NSRCC.

TIWN: What is your take on the possibilities of gymnastics in Tripura? People often find themselves attracted towards cashable sports. What do you think is the future of gymnastics in the state?

Dipa: Well, I see a lot of youngsters teeming with energy here. Tripura has got really good potential for gymnastics. I can see a good number of international players coming up from here. They just need encouragement and practice.

TIWN: Whom would you give credit for your journey till now?

Dipa: My family has always been supportive to me and my sports. My baba (father) Dulal Karmakar is himself as sports personality.  He is currently a coach at the Sports Authority of India (SAI). My aunt used to be a national swimmer. My mother was always supportive to my sports ambitions. I am lucky to have such a family and I am lucky to have Sir Bisweswar Nandi as my coach. 

Photo :TRIPURAINFOWAY felicitating Dipa Karmakar with a gift of Rs.25,000/-  on August 6, 2014 at Agartala Office. 

TRIPURAINFOWAY team welcoming Dipa Karmakar at TIWN Agartala Office.