'Pray For me India', Gymnast Dipa Karmakar Tells Fans Ahead of Rio Olympics Finals

Dipa Karmakar has been creating history from the beginning of the year and her achievements have only grown. Now possibly the biggest test of her life awaits her as the Indian artistic gymnast will take part in the vault final a day ahead of the nation's independence day.

"I am excited and not nervous because I reached the final of such a big event. I am very happy also because this is my first Olympics. Efforts will be to give my best," Dipa told news agency ANI.

Dipa scripted history as she became the first Indian to make the cut for the individual vault finals in her debut Olympics after finishing eighth in qualifying.

The Tripura girl, who is also India's first woman gymnast to qualify for the Games, managed to perform her much-appreciated 'Produnova' vault cleanly to secure 14.850 points after two attempts.

Now ahead of the final, the 23-year-old is asking her fans to "please pray for me that the day goes in my favour" on August 14.

"I cannot say much about medals as anything can happen. I am competing against gymnasts who have won medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics so it will be very tough."

The Agartala-born gymnast also said that her fellow athletes feel proud of her and express the same feelings whenever they meet her.

"All our (Indian) athletes, wherever they meet me at the Games Village or elsewhere, each time they say that they are very proud of me. They say that an Indian star is comng. I feel very happy," concluded Dipa.