She might have just woken up from a nap but there's not a hair out of place, much like when she's on the track. Hardship has been a constant companion for Dutee from the very start - she overcame acute financial issues, fought a hyperandrogenism case in 2014, was ridiculed for coming out as one of India's few openly gay athletes and continues to be heckled for "styling herself." I plan to retire and open an academy in Odisha to unearth new talents." She hopes to launch the 'Dutee Chand Athletics Speed Academy' which will be solely dedicated to sprinters. None of the athletes from my generation are still competing, they've all retired. She adds, "I plan to retire after the 2024 Olympics. My body is becoming slower and I began training quite late this season, but I feel I still have it in me." The current generation of runners are clocking times of 11.1s and the Chinese runners have even run 10.9s. Looking ahead at the Asian Games that will kick off at Hangzhou on September 11, she says, "I'm certainly aiming for the gold this time, but it won't be easy. I'm proud to have been consistent since 2012, most of my performances in big events have been sub-11.3s," she says. I don't stop competing if I don't do well, that's not the right approach. I lost at the inter-state competition last year and people wrote me off but 15 days later I set a national record of 11.17s in Patiala. I compete in all events because it helps me understand how ready my body is and what changes I need to incorporate."ĭutee takes pride in her consistency over the last decade. She adds, "Even now people say 'Oh Dutee, you are such a big star but why do you have to compete in such small events like national level competitions?' I say I might be a star today but these events are very important for me to qualify for global events. I'm yet to begin training for speed.I'm confident of hitting my peak in June/July before the international circuit begins," she says in earnest.ĭutee Chand clocks 11.63s to win the 100m dash at the #KheloIndiaUniversityGames. In the competitions I've run in so far.the speeds are purely from my endurance training. I began training only in December and we've mainly worked on rehab and endurance training over the last six months. "I wasn't able to start training right after the Olympics because I'd hurt my back before the Games. Yet, she is sure of hitting her peak next month. And the World Championships cut off is 11.15s, while Dutee's personal best is 11.17s. She won the 100m gold here at the Khelo India University Games in 11.63s, which is far from the qualification marks she has to achieve this year - Asian Games (11.36s), Commonwealth Games (11.31s), World University Games (11.44s) and World Championships (11.15s).įor context, she clocked 11.32s to win silver at the 2018 Asian Games, which is just within the qualifying standard of 11:36s set for the upcoming 2022 edition. I've already participated in five events this year to make the cut for these international events."ĭutee's got a far way to go, though - her best this year came at the national inter-university championships in February when she ran 100m in 11.44s. She adds, "There are four international events this year with the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World University Games and World Championships lined up. " Aur 2-3 saal body chalega toh chalaenge (I'll pull along for 2-3 more years if my body co-operates)." While she has dominated the domestic sprinting scene over the last decade, she feels " abhi umar ho rahi hai, body itni tez nahi hai (I'm growing old, I'm not as fast as I used to be)." She's given herself two more years, until the Paris Olympics.
"My coach said you're anyway there and it's a direct final (no heats), so give it a shot."ĭutee has been India's fastest female runner since she broke onto the scene in 2012 and remains among the nation's most successful female sprinters. "I never intended to run the 200m," says Dutee with a shrug. She had finished second in the 200m race earlier in the morning at the Khelo India University Games, where she was edged out by promising youngster Priya Mohan. The ever-present spring in her step is evident as I meet her at a restaurant in Bengaluru, but she confesses she's just woken up from a nap. With the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games cut-offs set just below her personal best, the two-time Olympian will need to rapidly shift gears before she hangs up her boots after the 2024 Paris Olympics. But this year, she has to run faster than she ever has.
INDIAN GAY CHAT UPGRADE
You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browserĭutee Chand aims to defy age in bid to go faster, higher, strongerĭutee Chand is fast.