Dipa Karmakar to return to training next week
The Indian gymnast is gearing up for October's World Championships after Asian Games disappointment.
Artistic Gymnastics
Good news, fans of Dipa Karmakar!
The Indian gymnast is returning to training next week after suffering a minor knee problem at the Asian Games.
That injury, which she picked up during practice, forced the 25-year-old to withdraw from the team all-around final.
She was able to compete in the balance beam final, finishing fifth, but chose not to risk aggravating the injury in the team event.
Injury concerns
Karmakar, who hails from the northeastern state of Tripura, missed the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April as she was recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament tear on her right knee.
She suffered her latest niggle, to the same knee, while dismounting an apparatus during practice ahead of the qualification round at the Asian Games.
It caused concern at the time, but her coach has since assuaged any worries.
Bisweshwar Nandi, told the Times of India: "Her MRI has come out to be clean. She has started physiotherapy and I feel she can resume her training after a week."
Karmakar finished an agonising fourth in the vault at Rio 2016 before suffering the ACL blow.
And, in an interview with Women's Fitness India, she admitted it was difficult to have to spend two years out and miss out on the chance to represent India in Gold Coast.
"When you are a competitor, it is a terrible feeling to watch from the sidelines as you want to be out in the middle competing. But in order to compete at a level that you feel you can, you must take your recovery process very seriously, and nothing should distract your rehabilitation process."— Dipa Karmakar
Aiming for Worlds
Karmakar's next big test will be the World Championships in Doha at the end of October.
Nandi has reportedly told her not to attempt her favourite routine on the vault, the Produnova, until her knee is stronger.
Should Karmakar's recovery go to plan, she is expected to step up her training in the Indian capital late in September as she gears up for the Worlds.
"We will be going to Delhi around 18–20 September," Nandi said. "She is fine. There is nothing serious."
Re-live her Rio 2016 performances below!