Dutee Chand sets national record in women's 100m
What's the story
Odisha sprinter Dutee Chand broke her own national record in the women's 100 metre race at the 58th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships, held at the Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati. Dutee was the first to cross the line in the heat-2 of the semi-final round of women's 100m sprint. She clocked 11.29 seconds to set a new national record. Here's more.
Prospect
Dutee Chand sets her eyes on the Asian Games
Dutee Chand held the previous record of 11.30 seconds, which she had set at the Indian Grand Prix in New Delhi. The 22-year-old, who didn't make it the squad of the Commonwealth Games, has already qualified for the Asian games after clocking 11.42 seconds in one of the heats yesterday. The qualification mark was 11.67 seconds. She will compete in 200m and 100m races.
Fighting the odds
Dutee was once banned from competing
Dutee suffers from a rare medical condition called hyperandrogenism, which produces excess testosterone levels in her body. The AIFF believed that she had a performance advantage because of it and stopped her from competing. However, Dutee won a landmark gender case at the Court of Arbitration for Sports, temporarily suspending the ruling.
Chasing history
Dutee is India's gold medal prospect
No Indian woman has won a gold medal in 100m at the Asian Games so far and today's timing puts Dutee in a prime position to win it. 2010 and 2014 Asian games gold winners had clocked speeds of 11.33 seconds and 11.48 seconds respectively. Roshan Mistry, Christine Brown, PT Usha and Rachita Mistry have won medals for India at Asian Games so far.