Doha (Qatar), AGU Office: Olympian Dipa Karmakar’s coach Bishweshwar Nandi felt that the 2018 Asian Games in August would be a more “realistic target” for her protegee to make a return to the sport.

After a long rehab now following a surgery in April, Karmakar joined the national camp this week.

“I will closely monitor her progress, but I do not want to rush things. If she is fit, she will definitely go to Gold Coast event in April. It’s 50-50 for Commonwealth Games now,” Nandi told Indian media.

She has not competed since the Rio Games last year, preferring to go under the knife for a knee injury — a Grade 2 tear that became a Grade 3 tear during the Olympics.

The 24-year-old has started training, but gave the Montreal Worlds in October a skip as it didn’t fit into her schedule.

“I will be able to take a call by March 15 next year. We have two more important events lined up next year – the Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, and the World Championship in Doha. So I want to go slowly,” said Nandi.

At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, Karmakar became the first Indian to win a bronze in vault and was also the first Indian to qualify for the final in Rio. 

But in April this year, she injured the right knee and was advised surgery.

“We’ve to help her regain her fitness. Once I feel she’s back to her normal training, I’ll phase the Produnova back into her routine,” said her coach.