BHUBANESWAR 11-May-2014 112
Ace Odisha sprinter Dutee Chand stole the show, bagging a sprint double with new records in the 12th Federation Cup Junior National Athletics Championship, which concluded at Chennai today. She won the first gold medal in women’s 100 metre dash with timing of 11.63 seconds and in the process set a new National record, bettering the previous one of 11.75 seconds achieved by Saraswati Dey in 1997.
Dutee completed the double by claiming the 200 metre gold medal with a new meet record, clocking 23.95 seconds. She erased the previous meet record of 24.07 seconds, which stood in the name of Mukti Saha (WB) since 2001.
Dutee also equaled the National record that is held by V Pandeswari of Tamil Nadu since October 1997. Odisha Olympic Association secretary Asirbad Behera congratulated Dutee for her memorable achievements and announced cash award Rupees 50,000.
A seven-member Odisha squad bagged a total of four medals in the three-day championship. Among the other medals winners, Rajeswari Bhoi secured a silver in women’s heptathlon with 4353 points, while Damayanti Murmu grabbed a bronze in women’s javelin with an effort of 36.15 metres.
Other four Odisha athletes were Chinmayy Jena, Tapan Kumar Behera, Latika Basra and Susma Toppo. Siba Prasad Mishra accompanied the squad as manager-cum-coach.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOTO: Dutee Chand wins the 200m gold in Chenna on May 11, 2014.
