Dipa Karmakar calls uncertainty over Asian Games selection demotivating and discouraging

Published at :August 15, 2023 at 4:01 PM

Modified at :January 13, 2024 at 5:48 PM

(Courtesy : The Hindu)

She finished fourth at the Rio Olympics 2016.

Olympian Dipa Karmakar has finally broken silence and has penned a small note on social media regarding her non selection for the Asian Games. Dipa finished first in the trials organized by GFI (Gymnastics Federation of India) and her name was then sent to SAI for final approval. SAI in return dropped Dipa Karmakar from the Asian Games list citing her non activeness in the sport for the past few years.

The gymnast from Tripura dealt with several injuries and hasn’t taken part in any competition since 2019. In between, she also had to go through a 21-month ban for doping. The athlete, after initial rejection, once again requested for consideration, but SAI rejected her request for inclusion in the final list of Indian athletes in individual events.

On this #IndependenceDay, I am using my freedom of speech to discuss recent events that have proven to be very demotivating and discouraging. The #AsianGames2023, an event I have eagerly anticipated for the past two years, looks further than it is. (1/N)
— Dipa Karmakar (@DipaKarmakar) August 15, 2023

Alongside Dipa, the men’s gymnastics team too got dropped and out of nine names selected by GFI, only one Indian gymnast Pranati Nayak made the cut.

Dipa Karmakar voices her concerns on Twitter

Dipa Karmakar took to Twitter and wrote, “On this Independence Day, I am using my freedom of speech to discuss recent events that have proven to be very demotivating and discouraging. The Asian Games 2023, an event I have eagerly anticipated for the past two years, looks further than it is.

“To my surprise, despite topping the national trials and meeting the selection criteria, it appears that I will be deprived of the opportunity to participate in the Games.”

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She further added, Worse still, “the reasons behind this decision are unknown to me and have not been communicated officially. Instead, my fellow gymnasts and I are left to read about our exclusion from the Games in the news and I simply don’t know what to make of it.

“The hard work and sacrifice that goes into preparing for major games is rarely appreciated and instead met with uncertainty and deafening silence from SAI. All I ask is for the selection criteria to be applied fairly and consistently across all sports.”

Few weeks back, Indian football teams were rejected from participating in the Asian Games but upon the involvement of Sports Ministry both the men’s and women’s team got the nod to participate. Similarly, Dipa will be hoping for the best for getting included for the Asian Games.

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