Running for India

Olympian Dutee Chand is back in Hyderabad after winning two silver and one bronze at the Asia Grand Prix, and shares her experiences during an exclusive interview with Sunday Hans

From running on sand bare feet in frigid temperatures in a small village in Odisha to representing India in Summer Olympics in Rio, Brazil, sprinter Dutee Chand, truly has come a long way.

Chief National Coach for badminton Pullela Gopichand took Dutee under his wings and the athlete is now based in Hyderabad and is getting trained at Pullela Gopichand Academy, Gachibowli. Recently, Dutee made the country proud again with winning two silver medals and one bronze at the Asia Grand Prix, which was held in Taipei City.

“In 2014, I was dropped from Commonwealth Games contingent in the last minute citing that ‘hyperandrogenism’ made me ineligible to participate as a female athlete. I did not know something of that kind even exists. I only knew about doping test and that time was very hard for me.

I was removed from my hostel, etc, and I had no place to stay or practice. Then my coach Ramesh sir asked me to come to Hyderabad to train. I came to Hyderabad in 2015 and that's how my collaboration happened with Mytrah Foundation Gopichand Foundation (MFGF) and they have helped me a lot in my career,” she relates.

Speaking about her collaboration with MFGF she shares, “It has provided a lot of support in physio, supplementary, nutrition, among others, and gave me exposure to international events.”

Dutee says that it was her sister, Saraswati Chand, an athlete herself, who introduced her to the sport. “When I was seven or eight years old my sister asked me to run. I asked her why; as a kid, I was not very keen to run (laughs).

My sister asked me if I saw students participating in annual day competitions and win medals. I said ‘yes’. Then she told me that if I practised, then I could also win medals. I decided that I will win medals and that's how my stint with athletics started.”

“I hail from a poor family. And when I started training I had no shoes and no infrastructure, etc. I used to practice bare feet and that too in a frock. In winters the sand used to be so cold that it used to pierce my feet. And same was the case in summers.

I endured all that and today I am proud of the fact that I represent my country at international levels. ‘Sports’ has given me everything and I see sports as my duty and strive to be diligent in what I do. Both my parents are uneducated and my mother says that God made me to make the country proud,” she shares.

Every athlete's dream is to represent the country at the highest level of sporting event – Olympics. Dutee is a proud Olympian, who represented India at Rio in 2016 Summer Olympics. Sharing her experience, she says, “It was a wonderful moment to represent the country at such a big level. There were so many reputed athletes participating in the event and I learned so much there.”

Dutee trains for six hours each day; three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening. The 21-year-old athlete states relaxing the body is as much important as training.

“One needs to relax physically and mentally whenever they can as it is also a crucial part of training. If we keep practising and do not relax, then there is all the possibility that we will fail at the crucial moment, and then our entire hard work for the year will go waste. I go to Brahmakumaris near the academy and meditate there every evening; and whenever I get some free time I like to explore the city and watch movies with my friends, etc, to relax.”

“There are dreams, which people see while sleeping and there are people who have dreams in their hearts. The dreams, which we see while sleeping may not come true, but the dreams in heart come true with sheer hard work and dedication. Like every athlete, my goal is also to secure a medal at Olympics and make my nation proud. I hope I will achieve this as I am training hard towards my goal,” she signs off.