The beleaguered Indian teenage sprinter Dutee Chand, who was banned from competing international events for failing a ‘gender’ test, has found an ally in Home Box Office Inc., (HBO) an American-based television channel, which is documenting her trauma and embarrassment after the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) hyperandogenism ruling.
A four-member crew, with the support of local technicians, is in Kerala at the on-going 35th National Games, filming Dutee Chand exploits as an athlete thus presenting the her side of the story to the world. The crew has extensively researched Dutee Chand as a daughter, sister and an athlete. It has also interviewed her personal coach and senior Sports Authority of India coach Nagapuri Ramesh.
The crew interviewed J.J. Thomas, chief secretary of Kerala Government, who was earlier the director general of SAI.
“They wanted know how I spotted her and my contribution as National sprint coach in shaping the budding career of Dutee until the ruling shattered her morale,” said Ramesh in a telephonic conversation from Trivandrum to The Hindu on Friday.
Ramesh said the crew shot her training sessions at the stadium before the gold medal winning sprint and also the heats. “They also shot frames involving Dutee at Kovalam beach and a star hotel,” he added.
Ramesh said the journalists were keen on projecting the human and humble side of the athlete, who, for no reason was prevented from taking part in two prestigious events – Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. “They also felt that jealously could be a factor for the ruling.”
Ramesh said the film, once completed will be beamed in April.
He said earlier a TV crew from Brazil had visited Hyderabad to film the rise and fall of Dutee Chand in view of the forthcoming Olympics Games at Rio de Jenario in 2016.
