My next aim is an Olympic medal: Dipa

The 22-year-old garnered a total score of 52.698 points in the Olympics qualifying event on Sunday to book a berth for artistic gymnastics in Rio Games. 

“It is a good feeling to win a gold medal,” Dipa was quoted as saying at the official Facebook page of the International Federation of Gymnastics. “My next objective is an Olympic medal podium,” she said after clinching the gold in vaults finals at the test event of the Rio Games. 

The Tripura girl scored 14.833 as her best effort to finish first in the women’s vaults finals at the Rio Olympic Arena. She defeated 2008 Olympic silver medallist Oksana Chusovitina of Uzbekistan. 

Apart from being the first Indian woman, she is also the first Indian gymnast qualifying for the quadrennial extravaganza after 52 long years. Since the independence of the country, 11 Indian male gymnast have taken part in the Olympics (two in 1952, three in 1956 and six in 1964) but this will be the first for an Indian woman at the Olympics. 

Lauding Dipa’s feat Prime Minister Narendra Modi said she brought laurels for the country by her sheer determination and hardwork.