Asian Games | Dutee Chand thanks people for supporting her in difficult times

08/27/2018

Sprinter Dutee Chand is delighted after winning her first ever medal at the Asian Games in women’s 100m dash. Dutee thanked all her supporters who kept her motivated during the journey where she had to face many difficulties including suspension by the IAAF in 2014 under its hyperandrogenism policy.

Dutee clocked a timing of 11.32 seconds in the final of women’s 100m dash on Sunday and bagged a silver medal in the category. In a thrilling final which ended in a photo-finish, Dutee missed the gold by a whisker. Making her maiden appearance in the games, the Odisha athlete was beaten by Edidiong Odiong of Bahrain, who clocked 11.30 seconds to win the gold medal. However, that doesn't dampen her spirit as she thanked all her supporters who stood by her side in her difficult times.

Speaking exclusively to SportsCafe over phone from Jakarta, Dutee said, “I had worked hard before the Asian games. I was participating for the first time and wanted to go back home with a medal for the country. Many people have supported me in my journey and have stood behind me in my difficult times. This is the occasion to thank them all.”

China’s Wei Yongli finished with 11.33 seconds and clinched a bronze in the women’s 100m race. Athlete Rachita Mistry, who also hails from Odisha, won a bronze for the last time in the event back in 1998 Asian games in Bangkok.

Talking about the final race, Dutee said that everything went according to plan. She credited her coach Nagapuri Ramesh for many important tips and suggestions that he has been passing on for last few years and helping her to concentrate on the events.

“According to me, there were no initial hiccups in the beginning of the race. I started off well and my coach said the same as well. Had I not started well, finishing with a medal would have been difficult because of my short height,” informed the 22-year-old sprinter.

When asked about any regrets after missing out on a gold, she replied, “Little disappointed but am happy that I got a silver. It was a tough race and was a matter of a few micro-seconds. I will compete in the 200m race as well and are expecting to do well in that.”

Dutee recently set a new national record in the women’s 100m event when she clocked 11.29 seconds in the semi-finals at the 58th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships. She had clinched a gold in the finals with a timing of 11.32 seconds.

Dutee couldn’t participate in the 2014 Asiad in Incheon following her suspension for 18 months by IAAF. She bagged a bronze in the 100m dash at the 22nd Asian Athletics Championships held in her home state last year and was also a part of the Indian 4X100m relay team that won a bronze in the championships.

“When I won bronze in Bhubaneswar, it felt great to get a medal in front of the home crowd. But I was not well prepared for the event then. Here, I came up with full preparations and many people of Indian origin came in good numbers to support me. Climatic conditions were not at all difficult for me to acclimatize which went in my favour as well,” said the athlete who qualified for the Rio Olympics a couple of years ago but bowed down from the very first round.

Asian Games | Dutee Chand thanks people for supporting her in difficult times

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