Dipa gets rousing welcome on homecoming

New Delhi, Aug 20 (PTI) Fresh from her historic feat atthe Rio Olympics, gymnast Dipa Karmakar touched down in thecountry to a rousing welcome here today and candidly said shewas oblivious to all the frenzy she had generated in the pastfew days, while promising a medal in the next Summer Games. Dipa’s fourth-place finish in the individual vault finalat the Rio Olympics is India’s best performance in the eventat an international competition. The 23-year-old from Tripura missed out on an Olympicmedal by 0.150 points despite successfully executing thedangerous Produnova vault (15.266) in her second attempt tosecure a remarkable 15.066 points in the final. "I thank all Indians for praying for me. I am happy butwould have been happier if I had won won a medal for thecountry because I missed it by 0.15 points… but whateverhappens, happens for good. Hopefully, better things areawaiting. I was not aware about the frenzy back home. Sorry Icouldn’t win a medal but will surely try to win next time"Dipa said on her arrival at the Indira Gandhi InternationalAirport. Dipa again thanked her coach Bishweshwar Nandi, who hasbeen nominated for the prestigious Dronacharya Award. "I thank my coach the most. Being chosen for Khel RatnaAward is great but getting it after winning a medal would havegiven me the greatest satisfaction. And for me more importantis that my coach Bishweshwar Nandi winning the DronacharyaAward. He has been there with us for 16 years and he deservesit more than me." On her magnificent performance in Rio, she added, "I knewI could reach 7th, 8th position but had never even thought ofa fourth place. I’m very happy." With her now famous death-defying Produnova vault, Dipais currently one of the most well-known gymnasts in the world.PTI AH BSAH