Bronze-winning Indian gymnast Dipa toast of Tripura

Dipa Karmakar, the first Indian woman and second person from the country to clinch a Commonwealth Games medal in artistic gymnastics winning the women's vault bronze, has become the toast of her home state of Tripura.

As soon as the good news spread through TV sets after her win Thursday night, people converged on Dipa's home at Abhoynagar, on the outskirts of the capital city here, with bouquets and sweets.

"We first came to know of the splendid news through television. Since evening our entire family was sitting in front of the TV set. We all erupted in joy when Dipa's name was announced that she got the bronze medal," Dipa's father Dulal Karmakar told IANS Friday.

"Our long cherished dream was fulfilled, as our daughter was rewarded in an international meet," said Dipa's mother Gauri Karmakar.

Congratulating Dipa and her coach, Tripura Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Sahid Choudhury told IANS: "We are hopeful that Dipa would also get medals in the forthcoming Asian games in South Korea. We are ready to extend necessary support to her."

Dulal Karmakar, an SAI (Sports Authority of India) coach in weightlifting, said: "Now the Arjuna award is not far away for Dipa. She needs more technical and financial support to earn more skills in gymnastics to get new rewards and accolades."

"We are very happy with our daughter's performance. Her recognition was also because of her coach Bisweswar Nandi who has worked very hard for her, and Dipa had done a lot according to his coaching," said Karmakar.

In the 34th National Games held in Ranchi (Jharkhand) in February 2011, Dipa won five gold medals in Floor, Vault, All Round, Balance beam and Uneven Bars.

Arjuna award-winning gymnast Mantu Debnath said: "Tripura has young men and women who have enormous skills in gymnasts and they would show their performance if they got appropriate support and encouragement."

Dipa, who is the national champion for the past five years, is a physical instructor under Tripura's sports and youth affairs department.

Dipa won the Commonwealth bronze with an average score of 14.366. The 20-year-old had scored a mere 13.633 points in the first Vault, the lowest out of eight competitors in the final.

However, in a remarkable comeback Thursday night, Dipa scored the highest in the second Vault with 15.100 to bring up her average to 14.366.