Page 101 - English Expedition Class 2

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would get over her fear. He was right! Soon Dipa was cartwheeling . Baba and her
coach, Soma Nandi, were so happy.
When Dipa turned nine, she participated in the balancing beam event in the 2002
Northeastern Games. Dipa won the gold medal. This win meant a lot to her and Baba.
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She was no longer a reluctant gymnast.
Dipa still had to work hard. She was flat-footed, which means that the soles of her
feet didn’t have the natural curve. Flat feet affect how a gymnast runs and how she
lands on her feet during jumps. But Dipa had come so far – she decided she would

not give up.
Dipa’s coach Soma Nandi introduced her to her husband, Bishweswar Nandi, who
took over her training. Soon, she was doing special exercises that helped her feet
develop an arch. Gymnastics has never been popular in India. It did not matter to
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Dipa that she did not have the best space to train in. Nandi created equipment with
scooter parts to serve as springboards. Crash mats were piled on top of one another to
become her vaulting platform and seats from old cars became her landing space.
Dipa’s days were busy. Dipa ran. She jumped. Twisted and turned. She did rolls and

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stands on her head for eight hours a day. Her bones ached and her muscles were
painfully sore. She was moody, hungry and very tired.
Like most children, Dipa loved ice cream. But she was put on a strict diet. She
sometimes had to live and train in a sports hostel, far from home. Did she mind

working so hard? No, she did not! All Dipa wanted was to win medals and become
the best.
The years went by and Dipa won all the junior and national titles she competed
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in. However, she didn’t win anything at the 2010 Commonwealth Games . Ashish
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Kumar became the first Indian gymnast to win medals at that event – it was a proud
moment for India. Dipa was inspired by this win. She was determined to do better.
Four years later, Dipa won a bronze at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. She
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was so thrilled to stand on the winners’ podium !
So far, Dipa had won 77 medals, and that included 67 gold ones. But her coach
wanted her to make a mark in the international arena. She had to perfect something
that hadn’t been attempted by most gymnasts – something bold and dangerous. Nandi

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get over: overcome The Commonwealth Games are an international
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cartwheeling: doing skilful movement like a wheel multi-sport event wherein athletes from the
turning Commonwealth of Nations (an intergovernmental
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reluctant: unwilling organization of 53 member states) participate. It takes
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equipment: instruments place every four years.
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ached: suff ered from a continuous pain Ashish Kumar is a gymnast from Allahabad.
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podium: (here) a platform on which the winner receives
the award
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