On a foreign land, when Dutee Chand sprinted through the 100m race, eventually winning the gold, India had something to be very proud about, as it was first time and India had achieved a medal in the 100m format on a global event. On the 30th Summer University Games in Naples, Chand unmatched other participants by a clocking time of 11.32 seconds as she secured the gold for her respective nation.
Where no Indian has reportedly qualified ever in the 100m University Games, Dutee Chand stunned the spectators with a clocking time of 11.58 seconds to qualify for the semi-finals on 8th July and later on 9th July with yet another spectacular performance of 11.41 seconds to qualify for the final. In the finals, she was given a tough fight by the runners up Ajla Del Ponte of Switzerland with a clocking time of 11.33 seconds, eventually Chand clutching on to the gold. After Hima Das last year at World Junior Athletics Championships, Dutee Chand became the second woman to bring home gold at a global event.
With her season’s best run of 11.26 seconds in April 2019 at Doha, and her personal best of 11.24 seconds, she was already at the peak of her form. Being two-times Asian champion and the holder of the 100-metre national record, she has managed to achieved quite a few heights in her 7-years career so far. From coming out of the closet to winning gold medal in a segment where no Indians have qualified before, Dutee Chand is an athlete the nation is very thankful to have.
