Mumbai, March 20: Dipa Karmakar probably did not imagine that one day she would get the opportunity to meet and shake hands with her idol Nadia Comaneci.

Her dream came true on Sunday, March 19, in Mumbai. Legendary Russian gymnast Nadia Comaneci was invited at a function and Dipa Karmakar along with her coach Bisweswar Nandy was also present there.

Dipa, speaking from Mumbai over the phone said: “I was simply mesmerized to have been in front of the legendary gymnast.

"Like several gymnasts, Nadia the 'perfect 10' in the Montreal Olympics has been my idol since I started practicing vault.

"I simply could not believe that such a day will come when Nadia will congratulate me saying that she was impressed to have watched my Produnova Vault in the Rio Olympics."

Dipa said that Nadia had advised her to take care of her knee-joints and do some special exercises which could strengthen her bones for the 'Produnova' vault as it is risky one.

The gymnast from Tripura who finished fourth in the Rio Olympics 2016 further said: “Nadia asked me and my coach about the technique being implied during the training of Produnova.

"Even she asked my sir whether I train on the foam pit in my training centre. She at the same time, advised me to concentrate on landing in all of my vaults.

"Nadia who had an impeccable landing in her all events suggested me also to concentrate on the forthcoming World Championship, to be held in Montreal in October."

Dipa's coach Bisweswar Nandy said: “I have told Nadia that we will try our best to take part in the World Championship.

"Nadia stressed on one point that if Dipa could bag a medal in the World Championship then everybody will forget that she failed to earn a medal in the Olympics."

Dipa is currently training for seven to eight hours at the Sports Authority of India complex in New Delhi.

OneIndia News