Mumbai: Odia sprinter Dutee Chand will get custom-made gear in her bid to qualify for next year’s Tokyo Olympics after signing a two-year deal with Puma, the German sportswear company said, Thursday.
Like South African Olympic champion Caster Semenya, Odia sprinter Dutee Chand suffers from hyperandrogenism but was cleared to race in 2015 following a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling on gender testing guidelines.
The 23-year-old Dutee Chand won silver in both 100 and 200 metres sprints at last year’s Asian Games in Jakarta and also claimed gold in the 100 sprint at the Universiade in Italy this year. In doing so she became the first Indian sprinter to achieve such a feat.
“This is my very first exclusive brand association and I’m thrilled that it’s with a company that has worked with legendary athletes like Usain Bolt, the fastest man alive,” Dutee, who is yet to qualify for next month’s World Championships at Doha, said in a statement.
Dutee incidentally has beaten sprinters much taller than her with sheer grit, determination and sprint. The deal with Puma will certainly help her as she will get tailor-made sports gear from the German sports magnate. It remains to be seen whether she can derive the best benefits out of her new sponsorship deal.
Agencies
