Dutee Chand clocked 11.30 seconds in the women’s 100m heats and then ran 11.24 seconds in the finals to win a silver medal.
Advertisement
India’s premier woman sprinter Dutee Chand on Saturday scripted history after qualifying in the 100 meters category for the forthcoming Rio Olympics.
Odisha Athletic Association Secretary Asirbad Behera congratulated Dutee and announced Rs 50,000 for her.
Describing Dutee’s Olympics qualification a historic achievement that brought glory for Odisha, Patnaik wished victory for her in Rio, according to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office.
Though Dutee had broken a 16 year old national record in the event, she finished the race in 11.33 seconds, failing 0.01 seconds short of Olympics qualifying score which stands stands at 11.32 seconds. “It has been a tough year for me and I am so happy that my coach Ramesh sir’s and my hard work has paid off”, Dutee said. Dutee is also the first Indian woman to have qualified for 100 metres race in an Olympics since the qualification system was introduced in the event. “I will not let anyone down at the Olympics”, she added.
Chand booked her spot after beating the Rio Olympics qualification mark at the XXVI International Meeting G.Kosanov Memorial in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Advertisement
“I am really happy to have qualified for the Olympics”. Earlier, Anuradha Biswal and Rachita Mistry participated in the 4X100 women’s relay event at Sydney Olympics in 2000.
