BJP proposes Dipa Karmakar be appointed as Tripura ambassador

AGARTALA: The Tripura BJP state committee has proposed that the government appoint Dipa Karmakar as brand ambassador of the state. The 24-year-old gymnast won the gold medal in vault at the prestigious

FIG World Challenge Cup

in Mersin in Turkey on Sunday. Dipa's fourth place finish at the 2016 Rio Olympics had catapulted her to iconic status, and her return from injury with her triumph in Turkey has highlighted her hardwork and commitment.

BJP general secretary Pratima Bhowmik told media that the chief minister has already announced that Dipa will be honoured for her latest success. "We are really proud to see Dipa Karmakar win a gold medal in an international event in Turkey. The party earnestly requests the state government to make her brand ambassador for the state of Tripura, a step which the state government has been looking at to promote the potential of Tripura across the world," Bhowmik said.

"It will be good if the government makes her ambassador of the state to promote tourism, horticulture and investment," she added.

Dipa had created history becoming the first Indian to finish fourth in gymnastics at the Olympics. With her victory on Sunday, she also became one of the first from the country to win a gold medal in an international gymnastics event. After the heartbreak at Rio, where she narrowly missed a bronze medal, Karmakar received yet another rude jolt when she suffered a career-threatening knee injury. She underwent a successful surgery, but Karmakar was out of action for two years, missing out on several big events including the World Championships and the

Commonwealth Games

.

"We are indebted to Dipa for her success. Not only has she won a gold medal, she has also scripted history for the country in her sport. People of the world now know more about Tripura because of Dipa Karmakar. Despite facing several odds and deficiencies, she displayed her talent and became an inspiration for all of us," chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb told TOI.