Dipa Karmakar Set To Make Comeback In Asian Games

Padma Shri Award Ceremony

Ten days after her surgery, she was to receive the Padma Shri from then President Pranab Mukherjee. She didn't want to see pictures of herself receiving the award on a wheelchair, and hence decided to walk.

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The 24-year-old said, “I underwent the surgery on April 2, and on April 11, I was in Delhi. I was to receive the Padma Shri on April 13. I could not walk and had to use crutches. Initially, I thought that I will use a wheelchair but didn’t like the idea of pictures of me being taken in such a position. After all, just a month ago, I was fit and strong and my fourth-place finish at the Rio Olympics was still fresh in people’s mind. So I decided I would walk. It was painful but at least the photograph looks good.”

She recalls taking the help of a staff member to maintain her balance while walking at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also enquired about her health.

What did she miss?

Due to her surgery, Dipa had to go through a rehabilitation for over nine months. She couldn't even practise her gymnastic routines and missed a lot of competitions, which included the Commonwealth Games, Asian Championships and World Championships

“Last year was a terrible year. I had to go through rehabilitation for nearly nine months and could not practise my gymnastics routines. I missed the CWG and I also missed the Asian Championships and the World Championships. I perhaps could have won medals at these competitions but the reality was that I was injured. I was clear about one thing. When I go for my next competition I would not go as a tourist nor be satisfied by reaching the final. I would only go if I know I can give my best and am capable of winning a medal,” she said.

She has been preparing with her coach Bishweshwar Nandi, since the beginning of the year at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.

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