Odisha CM congratulates Dutee on her Olympics qualification

Describing Dutee’s Olympics qualification a historic achievement that brought glory for Odisha, CM Naveen Patnaik wished victory for her in Rio.

Dutee Chand is the first Indian woman to have qualified for 100 metres race in an Olympics after the legendary P. T. Usha.

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik today congratulated sprinter Dutee Chand for having qualified for Rio Olympics and said the people of the state wished her all success in the forthcoming Games.

Dutee today became the first Indian female athlete to qualify for 100m dash in Olympics in 36 years at the 26th G Kosanov Memorial Meet in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Describing Dutee’s Olympics qualification a historic achievement that brought glory for Odisha, Patnaik wished victory for her in Rio.

Odisha Athletic Association secretary Asirbad Behera congratulated Dutee and announced Rs 50,000 for her.

Dutee told an Odia television channel that her success was the result of 14 years of hard work. She said the support of her family played a key role in her achievement.

Dutee is the first Indian woman to have qualified for 100 metres race in an Olympics after the legendary P. T. Usha competed in the event in the 1980 Moscow Games. She is also the first athlete from Odisha to have qualified for Olympics in an individual event. Odia women athletes Rachita Panda and Anuradha Biswal had participated in 2000 Sydney Olympics in 4x100 metre relay race.