Agartala, Aug 22: National sports awards to ace gymnast Dipa Karmakar and her coach would benefit Tripura sports, Tripura Sports Minister Sahid Chowdhury said here on Monday.

The Tripura government congratulated Olympian gymnast Dipa and her coach Bisheshwar Nandi for getting Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ranta and Dronacharya Awards, respectively, in gymnastics.

\"I on behalf of Tripura government congratulate Dipa and Nandi for their feat in getting two most prestigious national sports awards -- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ranta and Dronacharya Awards,\" Tripura Sports Minister Sahid Chowdhury told IANS.

He said that these two most prestigious national sports awards get Tripura sports personalities for the first time.

\"Awarding these two awards to sports personalities in Tripura would boost the sports in this north-eastern state and encourage further to both Dipa and Nandi.\"

Dipa\'s father Dulal Karmakar is also very happy with the fact that Dipa and Nandi have been selected for national awards.

Dipa will give her MA examination in political science under Tripura (Central) University from Tuesday and the test is scheduled to continue till August 30.

She is pursuing the course in distance education mode.

\"I have taken my books to Rio de Janeiro (in Brazil) and studied the books as and when I got a scope in between my gymnastic practice there,\" Dipa said here on Monday.

The Tripura government on Monday gave a rousing reception to ace gymnast Dipa Karmakar, the first Indian to take part in an Olympic gymnastics final, missing out on the bronze by a whisker.

While addressing the gathering organised by the government to accord reception to Dipa and Nandi, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said: \"She will sit for her MA examination from Tuesday. I believe she will do better in this test too.\"

Sarkar also congratulated Dipa and Nandi for getting the two national sports awards.

\"Tripura sports will definitely benefit with the central government awarding the national awards to two Tripura sports personalities,\" he said.

The 23-year-old Tripura girl, who had become the first Indian woman gymnast to qualify for the Olympics, scored 15.066 points, a mere 0.150 less than eventual bronze winner Giulia Steingruber (15.216) of Switzerland in the final of the women\'s vault event.

National awards to Dipa, coach will boost Tripura sports: Minister