MUMBAI: Cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar on Tuesday night launched Dipa Karmakar: The Small Wonder, a memoir encapsulating the Tripura gymnast’s incredible journey.
The book authored by Dipa’s coach Bishweshwar Nandi and veteran sports journalists Digvijay Singh Deo and Vimal Mohan, is tagged as one of the most heartwarming sports biographies one can read this winter.
Dipa’s journey from Tripura, an oft-neglected sporting outpost, to the national consciousness and India’s highest sporting honour, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, is one of grit, determination, and a stubbornness to beat the odds.
On August 14, 2016, a young girl landed the Produnova that took her to the cusp of an Olympic medal. She stood fourth yet soared into the hearts of millions across the globe. her fourth-place finish at the Rio Olympic Games was a defining moment for Indian sport, which had barely cast a glance at the sport of gymnastics as a medal discipline till then.
“While the world knows that Dipa’s achievement in context of Indian sports is stupendous, it is imperative that everyone knows and understands the path she took to reach her first destination. The book brings her journey to life and gives a sense of why her achievements need to be celebrated,” said Tendulkar after the launch.
This fascinating memoir of Dipa’s incredible journey from Tripura to Rio de Janeiro, the venue for the 2016 Olympics, and beyond, is peppered with anecdotes that make for stunning reading, and at the same time provide an incredible glimpse into what it takes, and what it took, for a sportsperson to battle against all odds and leave an indelible impression in the hearts and minds of people the world over.
“It’s been a roller-coaster ride till date but I still have a lot to achieve. I’m grateful to my coach, the authors and the publishing house that have captured the hard-work, dedication, sacrifices everyone around me and I have made to do something unimaginable at the Olympics,” said Dipa.
About the Authors
Bishweshwar Nandi, a five-time national individual champion, captained the Indian gymnastics team on six occasions, including the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi.
A product of the famed assembly line of Tripura gymnasts created by the late Dalip Singh, Bishweshwar gave up lucrative job opportunities from government agencies to return to Tripura post his playing career. Since then he has been employed by the Government of Tripura and is posted at the Tripura Sports Council as a deputy director.
Digvijay Singh Deo is one of India’s leading sports journalists and currently heads the sports team at Zee Media Corporation Limited’s global news channel World is One News, WION. He has previously worked with Star News, Doordarshan News and CNN-IBN.
In recognition of his contribution to the Olympic movement Deo was chosen as a torchbearer for the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay in 2008 in New Delhi by the Indian Olympic Association. He has also served on the committee to select the 2015 Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awardees.
Digvijay has covered sport all over the planet and is also the author of My Olympic Journey, a book on fifty of India’s leading Olympians.
Vimal Mohan started his career assisting renowned film directors Prakash Jha and Ashwini Choudhary and subsequently moved into the Indian television space. Vimal’s repertoire boasts of diversity, speaking of various films, documentaries, current affairs programs, election coverage, daily news programs, corporate films, articles in print and on websites and even a music video.
After a brief stint at Sahara News, Vimal joined NDTV in 2003, bringing with him vast experience in reporting and production, including memorable interviews with major sports personalities, all along staying true to his love for Olympic sports.
He has covered the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004, Beijing in 2008, London in 2012 and Rio in 2016, Asian Games in Doha in 2006 and Guangzhou in 2010, the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010 and Glasgow in 2014. He has also covered 2003 Champions Trophy hockey in Amstelveen, FIH World Cup hockey in Delhi in 2010 and FIH Junior World Cup Hockey in Lucknow in 2016.
