Dutee Chand, the ‘fastest woman of India’, became the first Indian woman track and field athlete to win a gold medal at World Universiade in Naples. The 23-year-old took 11.32 seconds to finish the 100 mtrs sprint.
Dutee took to Twitter to announce her victory and said, “Pull me down, I will come back stronger!”.
? Picked it up! pic.twitter.com/Qwci6Uz5Yr
— Dutee Chand (@DuteeChand) July 9, 2019
Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju tweeted his congratulations to Dutee and shared her gold-winning sprint video.
I’ve been passionately following since my childhood but it never came. Finally, for the first time, a gold for India! Congratulations @DuteeChand for winning the 100m sprint at the Universiade, the World University Games, in Naples?? pic.twitter.com/Rh4phsKCEI
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) July 10, 2019
President Kovind, Prime Minister Modi and other leaders also congratulated Dutee on her achievement.
Exceptional achievement of an exceptional athlete!
Congratulations @DuteeChand for winning a hard earned and well deserved Gold in the Women’s 100 m finals.
You make India proud! #Universiade @FISU https://t.co/LVSkbsPZOP
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 10, 2019
Del Ponte of Switzerland came second with 11.33 seconds and Lisa Kwayie of Germany clocked in 11.39 seconds to win the bronze medal.
Last year, Indian sprinter Hima Das won the gold in 400 mtrs in World Junior Athletics Championship. Dutee’s own personal national record stands at 11.24 seconds.
