Dutee Chand is known for tackling challenges head-on. So, it’s hardly surprising that after a fine 2016 — when she qualified for the 100m sprint at the Rio Olympics and clocked her personal best of 11.24s in the Kosonov Memorial international athletic meet at Almaty (Kazakhstan) — she is not resting on her laurels.
The National champion is working on her sprinting technique and physical conditioning to step up to the next level.
“2017 will be crucial, for she will be striving to qualify for the World Championships in London (August 4 to 13),” says Nagapuri Ramesh, the Dronacharya awardee and SAI coach who trains Dutee. “Before that, she will compete in the Asian track and field event in June, which is a selection meet. She needs to either win gold or better the qualifying time.”
To make the cut for London, Dutee needs to register 11.26s in the 100m and 23.10s in the 200m in the Asian meet. Ramesh, however, is not satisfied with mere qualification. He wants Dutee to target a seeded lane (3-4-5-6), from where the best runners show off their prowess.
Towards this end, Ramesh is focusing on a significant improvement in the final stretch of the 100m. “We analysed last year’s sprints,” he says. “She needs to minimise the slowing down and maintain her stride length. Proper body posture is vital.”
Dutee has an explosive start and her first 60m are close to flawless, says Ramesh. “The last 40 called for corrective measures. I’ve added the single-leg squat to the training regimen; it enhances resilience of the legs. She also carries a 20kg plate and performs this drill to increase her endurance.”
Frequent hill climbing and running with a tyre tied to the hip were also included in the training schedule for a strong, explosive surge. “We need to compensate for her height [5’3”],” says Ramesh. “When athletes taller than her use their heads to dip at the finish lane, Dutee needs to rely on speed and stride”.
Care is taken to ensure the work complements Dutee’s natural gifts. The 21-year-old is not a “muscle-mass” athlete, according to Ramesh. Her strength is her nervous system. “I meticulously plan the training regimen to avoid injury or breakdown. A team of six, including me, monitors her training,” he says.
Keeping in mind the importance of proper nutrition, Dutee is on a schedule prepared by an expert dietician, tailored to different training sessions. “Dutee’s body condition demands a higher intake of carbohydrates and fish,” says Ramesh.
The theme of continual progress has been a constant in the Dutee-Ramesh partnership. The coach still remembers the times she clocked when she started training under him at Patiala in 2012.
“She was doing 12.10s and in just three months of training, she registered 11.81s. That gave me an indication that she was willing to learn,” he says.
Ramesh, too, has striven for advancement. “Whenever I am at big championships, I interact with my fellow coaches and athletes to learn how they prepare. Though training differs from continent to continent, there are general observations, which can be incorporated in the training modules.”
Dutee has a testing calendar — the Indian Grand Prix in April, and the Federation Cup and Asian youth championship in May — before the Asian event and London. But, the coach and athlete are prepared. At the Gopi Chand Academy in Hyderabad, where the partnership is based, nothing is being left to chance.
