14 August, 2017
India’s Dipa Karmakar may switch from the ‘vault of death’ to ‘Handspring 540’
AGU Media, DOHA (QAT): Ace Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar may switch from the ‘vault of death’ to ‘Handspring 540’ at the 2018 Commonwealth Games (CWG), according to media reports.
“There’s a Handspring 540 degree turn which could be there at CWG. It’s a twist movement in the air. In the handspring front movement, it’s the most difficult vault, but below Produnova,” said Dipa.
She became synonymous with the ‘Produnova’ after her path-breaking show at the Rio Olympics, but the Tripura-born gymnast has not competed thereafter due to an Anterior Crucial Ligament (ACL) injury in her right knee.
The 24-year-old underwent a surgery in April and has already missed the Asian Championship. She will also skip the upcoming FIG Artistic World Championship in Canada and return to action only at next year’s CWG in Australia.
“I had an ACL tear. I don’t want to take pressure. My main target is 2020 Tokyo Games. If I can perform Handspring 540 with perfection, I can win a medal at CWG,” added Dipa, who won a bronze at the last CWG edition in Glasgow, Scotland.
She exuded confidence that despite out of action for long will not affect her medal chances in the April 4-15, 2018 event in Gold Coast.
“It’s all about practice. The standard of competition will be known to me after the World Championship. I’ll get to know what I need to practice,” she said.