Olympics are the biggest event of the universe and it is not easy to bag medals, Dutee Chand said admitting that her timing was not enough to stand in the final podium.
“The sprinters are running below the 10 seconds timing, I need rigorous training for years together to get the Olympic medals. I was nervous while on the track and legs were literally trembling at the starting block, since it was my debut in the Olympics,” said Dutee on her arrival here on Thursday.
The hype and hoopla over Indian fastest women sprinter Dutee Chand representing India in the Rio Olympics ended on a disappointing note. She finished sixth in the women 100 metre heats event by clocking 11.69 seconds. Dutee stood at 50th spot among all the 64 sprinters of eight heats.
Dutee cited several reasons for her heartbreaking performance, but expressed hope to do better in 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
I would have performed better had the event held in evening instead of 11 pm. My practice time was during the evening but the event was held at 11 pm which is my sleeping time. My timing was not good as this was my first participation in Olympics. My body became stiff due to overcast weather at Rio since morning. Travelling for 36 hours also affected my performance, she said.
Dutee qualified for the Olympics by clocking 11.30 seconds to finish a 100 metre race at the XXVI International Meeting G Kosanov Memorial in Almaty, Kazakhstan in June this year. She was the first Indian sprinter since PT Usha in 1980 to qualify for the 100 m event in Olympics.
Human body is not a machine that will produce the same timings each and every time. It took 14 long years to reach the Olympic qualifying time. I respect the affection and support extended by people of my State and my supporter in social media.
I met with many international sprinters and competed with them in the highest platform at Rio. The experience will help me in my life. It was a lifetime experience. My starting from the block is good but need to maintain the speed till the finishing line.
“We are having many talented sprinters in our State and now the time has come for the Government to make intensive planning to groom them scientifically,” Dutee added.
Sports and Youth Services Assistant Director Akhila Das, Technical Official Amiya Mishra, Bhubaneswar Sports Hostel in-charge Rupwanita Panda and KIIT and KISS sports director Gaganendu Das received Dutee at the Bhubaneswar airport.