Narendra Modi lauds Dipa Karmakar, says determination helped her create history

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday heaped praise on ace athlete Dipa Karmakar for her historic jump, which made her the first Indian woman gymnast to qualify for the Olympics.

Modi hailed her by saying that she brought laurels for the country by her sheer determination.

“Dipa has made India proud and brought glory to its name. First time, a daughter from the country has been selected in gymnastics stream for the Rio Olympics. She has achieved the feat through her determination. Lack of resources never came in her way,” said Modi while addressing the convocation of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University.

The Tripura girl completed her performance at the final qualifier and Olympic Test Event in Rio de Janiero and finished ninth in the first of the four subdivisions of the women`s artistic category, thus qualifying for the Rio Olympics 2016.

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

Apart from being the first Indian woman, she will also be an Indian gymnast qualifying for the Olympics after 52 long years.