It has been a fairy tale comeback for Dutee Chand after being dumped by the IAAF for suspected hyperandrogenism (questioning her gender) and being slapped with a ban in 2014.
However, this gifted athlete from Gopalpur village in Odisha, got a verdict in her favour from the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) which declared void the international athletics body’s rules which debar athletes with hyperandrogenism.
Dutee has been vindicating that historic judgement with her consistent performances at the highest level and her latest achievement – the only Indian woman athlete to make it to the World indoor meet in Portland (USA) in 60 m dash from March 17 to 19 – is just another reminder of her indefatigable spirit to take on odds and prove a point.
Dutee’s qualification for the World indoors by virtue of her bronze medal performance in the recent Asian indoor meet clocking 7.37 in the final is a stunning achievement by itself given the fact that she doesn’t train at a worldclass indoor facility but at the GMC Balayogi Stadium in Hyderabad under the tutelage of her mentor and coach Nagapuri Ramesh of Sports Authority of India.
The 19-year-old Dutee, who clocked 7.28 in the heats and then 7.33 (the qualifying mark for the World indoor meet), will one of the two Indian athletes for the World meet – the other being shotputter Inderjeet Singh (now in US).
Dutee is clearly elated with her latest feat and is upbeat about doing well. “World Indoors meet is one of its kind. It gives you a different feeling and a great exposure to the best in the world. A huge learning curve,” she says without speaking of her chances of winning a medal, clearly showing she is not naïve. “Well, if I were to recall my feelings during those turbulent times, I was not exactly sure of making it to big time athletics. But, thank God and to the wonderful support of SAI, the Government of India and my coach Ramesh Sir, I am back on the track with lot more optimism,” says Dutee, who has been putting her heart and soul into the training schedule daily to be in the elite group of performing Asian athletes.
This champion athlete is pleased with her performances after the ban on her was lifted last June which two silver in the 200 m and 4 x 100 m and a bronze in the 100 m events of the Guwahati South Asian Games.
“All this is possible because of the commitment and single-minded devotion of my coach. He has been a huge source of inspiration,” she says.
“Yes, the fact that I lost out on valuable time in my dream to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics still haunts me. More importantly, glad that I am back. Let us wait and see how things shape up in the next few weeks,” a confident Dutee remarks.
Significantly, this gifted athlete continues to be a ‘special inmate’ at the Gopichand Academy to facilitate her preparations for the major international events. “She is a very special athlete. I love her spirit to prove a point every time she gets ready for a major meet,” reminds the former All England champion who has given her free accommodation at his Academy as a special gesture.
The former Andhra Ranji captain and vice-president of Telangana Badminton Association presented Dutee a cheque of Rs. 1 lakh in recognition of her achievements and also promised to give Rs. 5 lakhs more if she makes it to the Rio Olympics.
