Accolades have been pouring in for Tripura's ace gymnast Dipa Karmakar, who recently clinched gold in Turkey, with state Sports Minister Manoj Kanti Deb today thanking the athlete for bringing laurels to the state.
Karmakar is an inspiration, the youth should look up to her, Deb said.
"I congratulate her for the remarkable achievement and wish her well for future achievements. She is our youth icon. I would like to thank her for bringing laurel to the state and our country," he told PTI.
After a lull of two years owing to a knee injury, Dipa Karmakar returned to the world stage with a bang. The 24-year-old gymnast won the yellow metal on Sunday at a women's vault event at FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup in Mersin, Turkey.
Sunil Deodhar, Tripura BJP in-charge, said she expected Karmakar to bring more home more awards from the upcoming Asian Games.
As a part of 'Sampark Se Samarthan programme' of the BJP, Deodhar met the gymnast yesterday at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Delhi.
"She's made a remarkable comeback after a gap of 2 years due to an injury. During the meeting yesterday, Karmakar thanked the people of Tripura for supporting her when shewas down with the injury," a statement issued by Deodhar's office said here today.
Mantu Debnath, an Arjuna awardee and first international gymnast from the state, also greeted Karmakar for her achievement in Turkey.
"I am proud of her. She could do, what most of us could not," Debnath told PTI.
Notwithstanding the lack of infrastructure in the state, Karmakar has walked her way to glory, he said.
"Three gymnasts in the state - I, Dipa and Kalpana Debnath got Arjuna awards despite poor infrastructure. There is no foam pit in the state till date, which is an important requirement for a gymnast. I wish her well for the coming Asian Games competition," he added.
Earlier this week, the general secretary of the BJP's state unit, Pratima Bhowmika, said the party would ask the state government to declare Karmakar as the "brand ambassador" of Tripura.
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