Bhubaneswar: Asian Games double silver medallist Dutee Chand had decided to give the National Open Athletics Championships, starting from Tuesday here at the Kalinga Stadium, a miss owing to fatigue, saying she needs a bit of rest before she participates in any event next.
“I am very tired now. The last few months have been very tiring and I didn’t even get ample time for recovery,” Dutee said over phone. “My body needs some rest now. Moreover, my coach (Nagpuri Ramesh) and I have decided that we will not take part in any events this year.”
Meanwhile, Odisha heptathlete Purnima Hembram who narrowly missed a medal in the recently concluded Jakarta Asiad finishing fourth will be representing Indian Railways in the 100m hurdles while her statemate Jauna Murmu who also reached the finals of women’s 400m hurdles in the Asiad will don the ONGC colours.
Local boy Amiya Kumar Mallick, known as the fastest man of the country, has been included in the 17-member state squad, announced by the Odisha Athletic Association Monday.
The squad: (men) Niranjan Mohanty, Ashish Patra, Manoj Kumar Maharana, Malay Ranjan Pati, Amiya Kumar Mallick, Sukadev Mohanty, Koushalya Kumar Nayak, Ashok Dandasena, Abhijit Sahu, Chinmaya Ranjan Jena, Hari Behera, Ranjan Kumar Sahu; (women) Samsad Ara Begum, Parbati Sethi, Purnima Hembram, Divya Shandilya and Urja Bhuyan; Coach: Sailendra Prasan Burma.
