Sakyasen Mittra
Bhubaneswar, July 22: It was she who had inspired Dutee Chand to start running. But today, it is Dutee’s courage and deeds that are inspiring elder sister Saraswati Chand to come back to the tracks once again after injuries threatened to cut her career short.
Saraswati, who had won double gold medals in the World Police Games in 2011 and 2012, has for the past three years been lying low, because of injuries to calf muscles on both her legs. The 200m and 400m sprinter took part in the 2014 Police National Games, after which she has not participated in a single competitive meet. But now the drill sub-inspector is once more back on the tracks to be fit for the upcoming 2016 Police Games, starting September 3.
“Frankly speaking, Dutee has been an inspiration,” Saraswati stated sitting in the one-room accommodation allocated to her sister by the KIIT management. With Dutee out of city at present, Saraswati is using it as a base to once more reignite her athletics career.
“The odds that Dutee had to face, compared to those, my injuries are just nothing. She always talks about her ‘Apa’ (elder sister). But I am proud to say that my ‘Sana bhauni’ (younger sibling) has been the person who has been instrumental in prompting me to make a comeback,” added Saraswati.
As of now, she doesn’t have a coach or any medical help, but that doesn’t stop her from going through her arduous training sessions every morning and evening.
“When I got injured two years ago, a chart was made by a couple of doctors to help in my recovery. I am following the same schedule now,” informed Saraswati.
According to her, she has achieved 70 per cent of her fitness at present. “I still have some pain in both my calves for which I am not being able to sprint at full speed. Hopefully, I will recover by the time the Police Games come along,” she added.
When she was fit, she regularly clocked 54.89 seconds in the 400 metres and 21.24s in the 200m. Her present goal is to reach that level by September 3. “You need to set yourself a target and that is my major goal now,” stated Saraswati. “I wish I had some support from the state government, but sadly that has not been forthcoming. But I am not bothered. I know I can’t let Dutee down and that is why I am putting the best of efforts,” added the 24-year-old.