Dutee Chand aims to clinch Olympics berth via world ranking

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Dutee Chand

Dutee Chand, the ace Indian sprinter and current national champion, is aiming to secure her qualification in the Tokyo Olympic Games in the women’s 100m category with the help of world rankings.

The national record holder with a time of 11.22 seconds, Dutee is currently ranked 42nd in the world and hopes to make the cut for the Japanese capital before the qualification deadline that is dated 29th June.

Dutee is presently training at the national camp in Patiala, which will host the Indian Grand Prix IV on 21st and subsequently the National inter-state championships which will take place from 25th to 29th June.

The benchmark to make the cut for the Olympics at the two events is set at 11.15 seconds, while Dutee’s most recent 100m sprint was clocked at 11.58 seconds in the Federation Cup back in March, where she came second.

If she is unable to cross the qualification mark, Dutee’s plan B for the Olympics is her world ranking, as she revealed during a virtual press conference on Wednesday after she was named Senco Gold and Diamond Company’s brand ambassador.

“As per the current ranking, I am placed 42. I am very hopeful of qualifying,” said Dutee, “the qualification deadline is June 29. After that I will get one month to prepare well for the Olympics. I will try to achieve my personal best and get into the final in the Olympics.”

“My training has been going on well, morning six to 10 and evening six to eight. My speed and stamina has increased and I need to make a few technical changes as per my coach’s advice,” the 25-year-old added.

A two time Asian Games silver medallist in both 100m and 200m categories, Dutee lamented the mass cancellation of Olympics qualifiers and other international events due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nonetheless, the Odia sprinter is hopeful on the Indian women’s 100m relay contingent that is bound for Tokyo.

“Archana (S), Hima Das, Dhanalakshmi (S) and I have below-11.6 personal bests and our relay team is quite strong,” Dutee said, “We had prepared well. Had we gone to the World Relay event, we would have done well. Now the (Olympics) time is 43.05, we can touch it. If we get good competition, we can make it to the Olympics.”

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