Dipa Karmakar backs Pranati Nayak to end India’s wait for a CWG gymnastics medal

Dipa Karmakar and Pranati Nayak KOLKATA: As Glasgow prepares to host the Commonwealth Games later this week, one person who couldn’t help but feel a little nostalgic is artistic gymnast Dipa Karmakar. She won bronze in the women’s diving when the event was held in the Scottish city in 2014 – her first international medal.It marked the beginning of a remarkable journey that ended in 2024 when she retired after winning gold at the Asian Championships.After switching to coaching, Dipa remains deeply connected to the sport and will be glued to the screens when the competition begins on Thursday. He will also be rooting for Pranati Nayak, who he believes has a strong chance of a podium finish this time around.“We were together during the last two national camps. I was with the junior team at the Asian Championship in China while she competed alongside Olympic and World Championship medalists,” Dipa said during an interaction mediated by the Sports Authority of India (SAI).“She did well and got to the final. I hope she improves one of her vaults and if she does both vaults well I believe she has a very good chance of a medal.”Still, it should be remembered that the veteran gymnast has struggled with injuries, especially after injuring her ankle at last year’s world championships.“I’ve had two ACL surgeries myself, so I know how difficult it can be to come back. But I hope he comes back even stronger. The Commonwealth Games only come once in four years, so it’s a huge opportunity,” Dipa added.Apart from Pranati, India will have several other gymnasts in action, including several making their Commonwealth Games debut. While Dipa believes the event will be a huge opportunity for them, she is already looking forward to the next Commonwealth Games to be held in Ahmedabad in 2030.“I competed in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi and I know what it means to host such an event,” said Dipa. “This time I hope India has its best ever Commonwealth Games. We have four years to prepare and if everyone works hard I believe we can win many more medals.”She also hopes that India will get an opportunity to host the Olympics in 2036, which she says would transform the country’s sports ecosystem.“It would be a huge achievement not only for the athletes but for Indian sports as a whole,” said the Rio Olympian. “Organizing the Olympic Games means better infrastructure, foreign coaches, exposure trips, better facilities and more investment in sports.”The ‘Produnova Girl’, as she is popularly known, meanwhile, is delighted with the progress Indian gymnastics has made in the last decade. But once the Commonwealth and Asian Games are over, she wants the current crop of gymnasts to turn their attention to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. (Watch Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games live and exclusively on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV)