PNN & Agencies
Bhubaneswar, April 28: Despite stellar performances in the Federation Cup National Senior Athletics Championships by Orissa sprinters Dutee Chand, Srabani Nanda and Amiya Mallick at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, Thursday, the trio failed to book a place for the Rio Games. However, both Dutee and Amiya basked in the glory of creating new national records in the men’s and women’s 100m.
Dutee bagged a gold medal in the women’s 100 metres clocking 11.33 seconds. Srabani secured silver medal in the same event with a timing of 11.45 seconds. But both failed to qualify for the Olympics as the cut off mark for Rio had been fixed at 11.32 seconds.
In spite of failing to find a place for Rio, Dutee created a new national milestone in the 100m breaking the 16-year-old record of her statemate Rachita Panda (Mistry). The Oriya girl had clocked 11.38 seconds in 2000.
“I could not qualify for Rio Olympics but I am not disappointed by that. I am extremely happy, the national record is mine now. It is very early in the season, it’s the first meet and I have three more months to qualify for the Rio Olympics,” Dutee said after winning the race.
“I have got over all those disappointments related to my case (relating to IAAF’s hyperandrogenism policy). After winning the case at the CAS, I have been focusing on my running and with the help of my personal coach (N Ramesh) and my well wishers, I could achieve this,” added the Oriya sprinter who trains at the Puellela Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad.
Asked about any changes in Dutee’s running that led to her national record, coach Ramesh said, “Dutee always starts off the blocks quickly but she needed more power at the end to finish the race strong. So we made changes and that has come good.
“I hope Dutee will now be included in the government’s ‘Target Olympic Podium Scheme’. It will be better if she is sent for a foreign training stint. Here in India the temperature will keep on increasing and chances for Rio qualification will be more in competitions outside the country. We will make a request to the sports ministry and SAI.”
In their respective preliminary rounds, Dutee, Srabani and Amiya secured first positions in their heats. Amiya also created a new national record in the semifinals clocking 10.26 seconds. The previous record belonged to Abdul N Qureshi (10.30 seconds in 2010). But he faltered in the final, finishing in fourth position due to a niggling injury.
Jauna Murmu who was representing ONGC, also qualified for the final in the 400 metres and will compete for a medal, Friday.