TASHKENT, MAY 26 : Dipa Karmakar made history by securing a gold medal in the women’s vault at the Asian Gymnastics Championships 2024 here on Sunday.

This remarkable achievement marks the first time an Indian gymnast has won gold at the Asian Championships.

Karmakar delivered an outstanding performance, achieving an average score of 13.566. She outperformed North Korea’s Kim Son-hyang, who scored 13.466, and Jo Kyong-byol, who scored 12.966. This victory adds another significant milestone to Karmakar’s illustrious career.

The 30-year-old Olympian has been a trailblazer for Indian gymnastics. At the Rio 2016 Olympics, she became the first Indian female gymnast to compete, finishing fourth in the women’s vault – the best-ever performance by an Indian gymnast at the Olympics.

Karmakar also made history by winning gold at the 2018 FIG World Cup in Mersin, Turkey, becoming the first Indian gymnast to win a gold medal at a global event.

Before Karmakar’s groundbreaking gold, Indian gymnasts had only secured four bronze medals at the Asian Championships. Karmakar herself earned one of these bronzes in the women’s vault in 2015.

Other Indian medalists at the Asian Championships include Ashish Kumar, who won bronze in the men’s floor exercise in 2006, and Pranati Nayak, who earned bronzes in the women’s vault in 2019 and 2022.

Despite her recent 16th-place finish in the all-around category on Friday, which resulted in missing an Olympic quota for Paris 2024, Karmakar’s latest triumph underscores her resilience and exceptional talent.

This historic gold medal not only cements her legacy but also serves as an inspiration for future generations of Indian gymnasts.(UNI)