GUWAHATI: Gymnast Dipa Karmakar has officially retired from professional competitive gymnastics, concluding a remarkable 25-year journey. Karmakar is stepping back due to the intense physical demands gymnastics has placed on her body over the years.
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“After much thought and reflection, I have decided to retire from competitive gymnastics. This is not an easy decision, but it feels like the right time,” Karmakar expressed in a post on X. “Gymnastics has been at the center of my life for as long as I can remember, and I am grateful for every moment—the highs, the lows, and everything in between.”
Guided by coaches Soma Nandi and Bishweshar Nandi, Karmakar’s career has been nothing short of inspiring. She made history in 2014 as the first Indian woman to clinch a bronze in the vault category at the Commonwealth Games. The following year, she took home another bronze at the Asian Championships, continuing to break barriers and elevate Indian gymnastics on the global stage.
Her most notable achievement came during the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she became the first Indian female gymnast to qualify for the final vault event. Narrowly missing a podium finish, she secured fourth place and gained international acclaim by executing the infamous Produnova vault—becoming only the fifth woman in gymnastics history to do so.
Throughout her career, Karmakar earned accolades that speak of her extraordinary contributions to sports in India, including the Padma Shri, the Arjuna Award, and the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. She also graced Forbes' 30 Under 30 list of Super Achievers.