“I request all the girls to study well and play sports. Beti bachao, betipadhao, betikhelao (Save the girl child, educate the girl child and encourage the girl child to play),” Dipa said while addressing the large gathering at her felicitation.

The Agartala-born girl, who captured the imagination of the nation with her Produnova at the Rio Olympics, has also dismissed the myth that Indian coaches are not good enough. She drove her point home by citing the examples of Gopichand, Kuldeep Malik, and her own coach Bishweshwar Nandi.

“The Indian coaches are capable of producing top class athletes. Our Indian coaches are no less [than foreign coaches]. Olympics silver medallist P.V. Sindhu’s coach [P. Gopi Chand] is Indian, bronze medallist Sakshi Malik’s coach is Indian [Kuldeep Malik] and Dipa Karmakar’s good performance is because of an Indian coach [Bishweshwar Nandi],” said Dipa, reported the Hindu.

Dipa's coach Bishweshwar Nandi also spoke about the promise he made to his prodigy and has urged the Government to improve gymnastics facilities in the state.

“When Dipa finished fourth in Rio, I promised her that in the next Olympics I would help her get a medal. For this I request the State government to complete the reconstruction work of the regional centre for gymnastics here as soon as possible,” Bishweshwar Nandi said.