By Amala Dasarathi

We were super excited when Dipa Karmakar became the first Indian gymnast to qualify for the Olympics. We’re even more excited today because she has just been named a ‘Gymnaste de Classe Mondaile’ (World Class gymnast) by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).

Karmakar first shot to fame in 2014 for performing the Produnova, an extremely difficult gymnastics move, which has only been executed by five athletes before her. (More about that here.)

Karmakar is currently in the final stages of preparation for Rio Olympics. The letter of distinction that she got from FIG comes with a gold pin, which she will be carrying during the Olympics. Only 30 athletes a year, world over, who qualify as finalists for Gymnastics Worlds events are awarded this distinction. Karmakar is being honoured for her amazing performance in the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships held in Glasgow last year, where she came fifth in the vaulting event.

Karmakar told The Hindu, “This is a great honour for me. It proves the efforts and hard work I have been putting in over the years are in the right direction.”

She will be felicitated with the distinction and badge at a special ceremony to be held soon.