Dipa Karmakar - India's First Female Gymnast To Win A Commonwealth Medal - Gets Her Own Barbie
Dipa Karmakar was the first Indian female gymnast to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games. The 25-year-old Indian gymnast has won 77 medals including 67 gold in state national and international championships. She has been chosen along with 19 other women from 17 countries to be included in the collection of Barbie dolls inspired by real-life heroes.
Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar became the first Indian female gymnast to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games. At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Karmakar did India proud by winning a bronze medal. So, this year on Barbie's 60th anniversary, Mattel in an effort to honour female role models in their respective fields, launched a Dipa Karmakar-inspired Barbie.
Dipa Karmakar was the iconic global brand for their ¡®role model¡¯ campaign to mark the 60th anniversary of Barbie.
Barbie has always shown girls that they can be anything!! On the occasion of her 60th anniversary, I am honoured to be selected as a Barbie Role Model to help inspire the next generation of girls!#Barbie60 #YouCanBeAnything pic.twitter.com/6cnAWtLvDs
¡ª Dipa Karmakar (@DipaKarmakar) March 9, 2019
The 'Dipa Karmakar' Barbie doll dons a red full-sleeve leotard and a bronze medal. The 25-year-old Indian gymnast has won 77 medals including 67 gold in state, national and international championships and in July 2018, Karmakar became the first Indian gymnast to win a gold medal at a global event, when she finished first in the vault event of the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup at Mersin, Turkey.
She has been chosen along with 19 other successful women from 17 countries to be included in the collection of Barbie dolls inspired by real-life heroes.
As part of our ongoing commitment to #CloseTheDreamGap, we are honoring #MoreRoleModels from around the world than ever before. These women are breaking boundaries to inspire the next generation of girls. ? Learn more: https://t.co/dDN166naY4. #YouCanBeAnything #Barbie60 pic.twitter.com/giiaPkvSS5
¡ª Barbie (@Barbie) March 6, 2019
"Dipa created history by becoming India¡¯s first female gymnast to qualify for the final of the vault event at the Olympics. She missed out on bronze by a narrow margin, finishing fourth in the event. Dipa is one of only five women who has successfully landed the Produnova or handspring double front, the most difficult vault currently performed in women's gymnastics. She has defied all odds and inspired a generation of young girls to take up the sport of gymnastics," said the company in a statement.
After Dipa shared the news of being selected as a Barbie role model, people started praising the gymnast:
1.
Congrats Deepa ?????
¡ª Vijay Singh (@vijaystambh) March 9, 2019
You are really an inspiration to the nation.
2.
Congratulations!You are such an inspiration. ?
¡ª Sayli Desai (@sayli527) March 9, 2019
3.
Yes. You looks beautiful. ?
¡ª Tushar Vaid Official (@brokenteens1) March 9, 2019
4.
Congratulations you really deserve this
¡ª Neeraj Pandey (@neerajpandeji) March 9, 2019
5.
Glad to see the Barbie Industry started recognizing and promoting the real beauty (along with materialistic beauties). We are proud of you Miss @DipaKarmakar ??
¡ª Nikhil Pratap Singh (@hi_NikhilPS) March 9, 2019
6.
Congratulations pic.twitter.com/PZInLwnUbC
¡ª Dinesh Kumar (@thekumar02) March 10, 2019
7.
Khub Bhalo!
¡ª A (@arcticmonkey_5) March 10, 2019
More power to you.
?
8.
Congrats.... What a honour ?
¡ª Kush Shrivastava (@shri_kush) March 10, 2019
9.
India is so blessed to have an Idol and a Role Model in the form of you. Thank you!https://t.co/Oehv5kWGEJ
¡ª KingdomofSportz (@Kingdomofsportz) March 10, 2019
10.
Congratulations & always do well in your life.
¡ª Deepak Kulshrestha (@deepakkul1711) March 10, 2019
A move like this means that little girls will hear a story behind a toy they buy, and it will mean more than just brushing its hair and dressing it up.