In Perfect Balance Chapter Notes | English Class 3 ICSE PDF Download

Introduction

This chapter tells the inspiring story of Dipa Karmakar, a young girl from Agartala, Tripura. Born in 1993, she became the first Indian female gymnast to participate in the Olympics. The story follows her journey from a playful child to a skilled gymnast who competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics. With the support of her father and coaches, she overcame many challenges to achieve great success in gymnastics.

Dipa Karmakar

Key Points

This story is about:

• Dipa was born on 9 August 1993 in Agartala, Tripura.
• She started gymnastics at the age of five with her father’s encouragement.
• She won a gold medal in the balancing beam event at the 2002 Northeastern Games.
• Despite having flat feet, she worked hard to improve her skills.
• She won a bronze medal at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
• Dipa has won 77 medals, including 67 gold medals.
• She learned the difficult Produnova vault and competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
• She missed a medal by just 0.15 points but won everyone’s hearts with her performance.
  

Explanation

Dipa grew up in the beautiful city of Agartala, surrounded by trees and orchards. Her father, a former weightlifting champion, took her to the gymnasium where she began training at five years old. At first, she was afraid to step on the beams and often got upset, but her father believed in her. Soon, she started doing cartwheels and gained confidence. 

At nine, she won her first gold medal, which made her and her father very happy. Despite having flat feet, a condition that made gymnastics harder, she did not give up. Her coach, Soma Nandi, and later her husband Bishweswar Nandi, helped her with special exercises to strengthen her feet. 

They even made training equipment from scooter parts and old car seats because proper facilities were limited. Dipa trained for eight hours a day, which was tiring and painful, but she stayed focused. She followed a strict diet and sometimes stayed in a sports hostel away from home. Over the years, she won many junior and national titles. 

Although she didn’t win at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, she was inspired by another gymnast’s success. Four years later, she won a bronze medal, which was a big moment for her. Her coach then trained her for the challenging Produnova vault, a move few gymnasts attempt. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, at age 23, she performed this vault and nearly won a medal, missing by just 0.15 points. Her performance amazed everyone, and a famous gymnast praised her as a role model for young athletes in India.

Message

The story teaches us that with hard work, determination, and support from family and coaches, we can overcome fears and challenges. Dipa’s journey shows that even with difficulties like flat feet or limited resources, success is possible if we stay focused and keep trying. It encourages children to take up sports and never give up on their dreams.

New Words with Meanings

• Gymnast: A person who does special exercises on bars, beams, and vaults.
• Agarwood: A special fragrant wood used in perfumes.
• Baba: A word for father.
• Acrobatics: Skillful movements like tumbling and jumping.
• Aerobics: Exercises with rhythmic movements.
• Tantrum: A sudden fit of anger, often seen in children.
• Cartwheeling: A skillful movement like a wheel turning.
• Reluctant: Unwilling to do something.
• Equipment: Tools or instruments used for a task.
• Ached: Felt a continuous pain.
• Commonwealth Games: A big sports event held every four years for many countries.
• Podium: A platform where winners receive awards.
• Produnova vault: A difficult gymnastics move with handsprings and somersaults.
• Awestruck: Feeling amazed or astonished.