Sprinter Dutee Chand on Saturday became the first-ever Indian woman to qualify for the Olympics in the 100m (after qualifying marks were introduced in 2000) when she made it to Rio with a timing of 11.30 seconds (qualifying mark is 11.32s) in the heats at the 26th Kosonov memorial international athletic meet in Almaty (Kazakhstan).
“This is the ultimate dream. I could not have asked for a better moment in my life than making it to the Rio Olympics,” a delighted Dutee told The Hindu .
“The hunt was on for this moment to be realised. The tension has been there for the past one month even as preparations were really on in right earnest. With the July 11 deadline to achieve the qualifying mark for Rio Games fast approaching, I was definitely tense before this meet in which athletes from 21 countries are participating.
“But once I was on the track, I was relaxed which was what my coach Ramesh sir kept insisting on,” says Dutee.
“I could see my coach restless from 3 a.m. today before the heats. He was praying and continuously cheering me. I am glad that I could deliver for the immense faith he reposed in me,” pointed out the athlete whose earlier best, according to her coach, was 11.33s.
“The fact that I broke the National record in the process is even more special in this regard,” remarked Dutee.
Dutee’s coach and mentor, Nagapuri Ramesh of SAI (who is accompanying her), said that they were grateful to the organisers for facilitating the visa at the last minute from Kyrgyzstan to Kazakhstan after the Indian Embassy chipped in with crucial efforts to see that the gifted athlete got another chance to qualify for the Olympics.
‘Near-perfect effort’“It was a near-perfect effort by her today. She followed all the technicalities till 40m by learning forward before changing pace in the next 60m. The best part is that she was relaxed despite the fear of missing the chance to represent India in Olympics,” said Ramesh. “This is one of the greatest days for me also.”
