Dutee Chand Athletics: Age, Olympics, Medals, Asian Games, Awards, Girlfriend, Controversy

Dutee Chand is an Indian professional sprinter and current national champion in the women’s 100 meters event. She is the first Indian sprinter to win the Gold medal in the 100 m race and third Indian woman to ever qualify for the Women’s 100 meters event at the Summer Olympic Games. Dutee Chand is also the first Indian athlete to openly come out as a member of the LGBTQ community when she spoke about being in a same-sex relationship in 2019.

Early days

Dutee Chand comes from a below poverty line weavers family. She was born to Chakradhar Chand and Akhuji Chand in the Jajpur district of Odisha. Her older sister Saraswati Chand, who competed in running at the state level is her source of inspiration.

The Odisha-born athlete was initially not interested in athletics. However, the lure of a government job was hard to shun. Her sister, Saraswati Chand, a kabaddi player-turned-runner, helped her take baby steps on the track.

Born on: 03 February 1996

Dutee Chand Age: 24 years (As on April 2020)

From: Jajpur, Odisha

Dutee Chand Personal Best:

100 m – 11.22 NR (2019)

200 m – 23.00 (2018)

Dutee Chand Medals

Dutee Chand at Asian Games

• Silver Medal in 2018 Jakarta in 100 m
• Silver Medal in 2018 Jakarta in 200 m

Dutee Chand at Asian Championships

• Bronze medal in 2013 Pune in 200 m
• Bronze medal in 2017 Bhubaneshwar in 100 m
• Bronze medal in 2017 Bhubaneshwar in 4×100 m
• Bronze medal in 2019 Doha in 200 m

Asian Indoor Athletics Championships

• Bronze medal in 2016 Doha in 60 m

Dutee Chand at South Asian Games

• Silver medal in 2016 Guwahati in 100 m
• Bronze Medal in 2016 Guwahati 200 m

Asian Junior Athletics Championships

• Gold medal in 2014 Taipei in 200 m
• Gold Medal in 2014 Taipei in 4×400 m

Indian Grand Prix Series

• Won two Gold Medals in Indian Grand Prix Series in 2019

Dutee Chand at Olympics

• The Odisha-born sprinter became the third Indian woman to participate for the Women’s 100 metres at Rio 2016 Olympics but couldn’t win any medal

Dutee Chand Awards and Recognition

• The Government of Orissa awarded ₹3 crore (US$420,000) to Dutee for winning the silver medals at the 2018 Asian Games.

Dutee Chand Controversy

• In 2014, she was banned from competing due to high testosterone levels.
• In 2019, the Odisha-born sprinter became India’s first-ever openly LGBTQ+ athlete as she publicly stated that she is in a same-sex relationship.
• Chand expressed that the Indian Supreme Court’s historic decision to decriminalise gay sex in 2018 encouraged her to speak publicly about her sexuality
• Dutee faced a severe backlash from her home village after speaking publicly about her sexuality

Lesser Known Facts

• In 2013, Dutee enrolled in the KIIT University to study law.
• Dutee is presently employed as an executive officer in the state PSU The Odisha Mining Corporation Ltd.
• Dutee is also only the second Indian sprinter to win a gold medal in a global event behind Assam’s Hima Das who did so at the IAAF World U-20 Championships in Tampere in 2018.