Leading India gymnast Dipa Karmakar recently expressed her anguish on social media, shedding light on her potential exclusion from the upcoming Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, slated from September 23 to October 8. The heart of the matter revolves around her missing the mark on the stringent selection criteria set by the Sports Ministry, despite topping the selection trials by the Gymnastics Federation of India (GFI) in July.
In a significant revelation on July 26, the GFI announced a nine-member team for the Asian Games, proudly featuring Rio Olympics star, Dipa Karmakar, following trials held in Bhubaneshwar.
However, a twist ensued when the Sports Ministry conveyed that merely two out of the nine gymnasts qualified for the Asian Games, adhering to the benchmark set on July 10. This criterion mandates sportspersons' performance over the past year to at least match the 8th position holder's feats at the 2018 Asian Games.
Adding to the conundrum, Karmakar, after a commendable all-round score of 47.05 post her 21-month doping ban hiatus, found her name conspicuously absent from the final athlete roster. "Worse still, the reasons behind this decision are unknown to me and have not been communicated officially," Karmakar lamented.
Highlighting her tumultuous journey, Karmakar, distant from gymnastics since 2019 due to injuries and the aforementioned doping ban, appealed to SAI for leniency in the eligibility criteria. She pointed to adversities including dual ACL tears in 2017 and 2019, pandemic-induced limited competitive opportunities, and the recent 21-month doping suspension ending in July 2023.
In her corner, the GFI too petitioned the Sports Ministry and SAI, endorsing Karmakar's potential and her rich legacy in Indian gymnastics. There's a whisper in ministry corridors that a special consideration might be extended to Karmakar for her significant contributions. Yet, as of 15th August 2023, an eerie silence prevails, plunging Karmakar and fellow gymnasts into unwarranted ambiguity.
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