We couldn’t sleep because of tension : Dipa Karmakar’s father relieved after daughter’s qualification

India's first-ever gymnast at the Olympics, Dipa Karmakar, finished 8th in the qualification round on Monday morning after scoring 14.850 in vault to enter the final stage. Dipa performed the dangerous Produnova in her first attempt, and although her landing was a bit off as she bent low, she was awarded 7.000 on difficulty and 8.1 on execution, taking her score to 15.1. In her second attempt, Dipa pulled off a ‘Tsuk double full twist’ with a step to the side. She received a score of 6.0 for difficulty in the second attempt and an 8.6 for the execution.

Dipa was sixth in the list after her subdivision, and two more subdivisions were remaining on the day. Her fate was in the balance, and Dipa’s parents could not sleep because of the tension. Once the confirmation of her entry to the final came in the morning, the mood in the Karmakar household turned into a one of celebration.

We couldn’t sleep because of tension."

“We couldn’t sleep because of tension. Now we are very happy, hoping for the best,” Dipa’s father Dulal told ANI.

Dipa Karmakar will be celebrating her 23rd birthday on Tuesday (August 9), and her family wants Dipa to bring a medal from Rio as the birthday gift.

“Tomorrow (Tuesday) is Dipa’s birthday. If she gets a medal, that will be the biggest gift for her,” Dulal told ANI.

Dipa will be next in action in the women’s vault final on August 14.