Rousing welcome for Dipa Karmakar

Gymnast Dipa Karmakar and her coach BS Nandi being accorded warm welcome upon their arrival at the airport in Agartala. (Photo: PTI)

Dipa Karmakar, who finished a historic fourth in gymnastics at the Rio Olympics, was on Monday given a rousing welcome on her return home.

Thousands of people gathered at the Swami Vivekananda Stadium waving the tricolour and burst crackers to cheer Dipa, the first Indian woman gymnast to compete in the Olympics and the first to do so in 52 years.

Expressing happiness over the performance of women athletes from the country in the Olympics, she said, “I appeal to all — save the girl child and encourage the girl child.”

The Tripura government announced a promotion for Dipa and chief minister Manik Sarkar said that the government has taken an initiative to make a world class gymnasium, where Dipa would get all facilities to equip herself for upcoming competitions.