The villagers of Gopalapur in Jajpur district celebrated the occasion of Dutee Chand’s silver medal win in 100 meter race in the Asian Games in Jakarta. The racer belongs to the district.
Many villagers, including the family members of Dutee, distributed sweets and burst crackers. Joyous tears were rolling down on the cheeks of Dutee’s father Chakradhar and mother Aakhaji after their daughter won the medal.
“We are extremely happy after Dutee won silver medal,” said former Minister Prafulla Ghadai.
“Dutee’s achievement is ours too,” said Bari MlA Debashis Nayak. BJD leaders and MlA of Sukinda Pritiranjan Ghadei, noted social worker lopamudra Sendha and other leaders expressed happiness over the achievement of Dutee.
Earlier, Dutee had brought laurels to the country by winning a bronze medal on July 8, 2013 in the Women’s 200m race at the 20th Asian Athletics Championship in Pune.
This was the first time Dutee won a medal at any international event. She is also incidentally the first Indian in a global 100m final when she made the last 8 at World Youth Athletics Championships in Donetsk in 2013.
Two years back, Dutee became the second Indian woman to qualify for the 100-meter event since qualification started for the event. PT Ushaad qualified for the event in 1980 Olympics.