'Our PM always supports sportspeople' - Says sprinter Dutee Chand ahead of the start of Commonwealth Games 2022

The 26-year-old sprinter Dutee Chand is ready to represent India at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham. Notably, she couldn’t get a chance to feature in the previous two editions of the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and 2018 respectively. Although, she continued growing in his career of nine years in track and field. A gold medal 2019 Summer Universiade in Napoli is her latest achievement in athletics.

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Apart from that, the Odisha-based athlete registered her name in the history books when she won double medals at Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta. She won a silver medal in women’s 100m and it was India’s first medal in the Asian Games since the bronze of Rachita Mistry in 1998. Only, the legendary sprinter PT Usha won the silver women’s 100m in continental games back in the year 1986.

Recently, she has talked about her preparations and mindset ahead of the commencement of the Games in Birmingham. To note, it is the first time she is appearing at the Commonwealth Games. Firstly, Chand spoke on the missed chances of 2014 and 2018 and later on talked about the current mindset of the team.

He has also brought-in many schemes to aid us - Dutee Chand for PM Modi

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“I am feeling honored. Commonwealth Games is a big event as athletes from around the globe participate in it. Jamaican and Australian athletes who have their personal best timings of 10.7, 10.8, or 10. 9 are also there while Indian athletes have timings between 11.4-11.5 (seconds).

So, it’s a tough fight. But, in a relay, overall timing is what matters. We are targeting to finish at 43-dead as this will increase our chances of winning a medal whether it comes from the first, second, or third position,” Chand was quoted as saying to the SportsTiger.

Later on, she also talked about the schemes in sports which PM Narendra Modi initiated and also mentioned the role of those schemes in players’ improvement.

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“Our PM always supports sportspeople. He has also brought-in many schemes to aid us. The Fit India Movement is there, Khelo India is also helping young athletes. The Olympic Podium scheme is also there to help top athletes in the country. Opening SAI institutes across the country are also helping young sportspeople,” she added later.

Speaking on silver medal winner of World Athletics Championships 2022 Neeraj Chopra, she shared her experiences with him and also praised his instinct for the game.

Actually, Neeraj is a good friend of mine. He was my batchmate. We went together to the Junior World Championships in Turkey. He has been a good athlete right from the start. He created a world record with the best throw in U-20. He then improved at the Olympics and then the World Championships. His performances have been really good. I hope he wins a medal at the Commonwealth Games too,” Chand concluded.