Running Her Way To Victory
A battle within and outside. A battle to prove her identity and capability. But she fought against all odds, ran her own merciless course and emerged as a triumphant, nation’s pride. Dutee Chand became the first woman in the last 20 years and only the second Indian woman to win a silver medal in women’s 100m dash in the Asian Games.
While congratulations and rewards are flooding her away, she only wishes to wash away the humiliation of 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, when she was left out of the big meet for failing a hyperandrogenism test. Her identity was questioned, her privacy and human rights were violated. She was deemed an outcast amidst her own people. The two things that she identified with- being a girl and being an international athlete- were being questioned. She was forced to undergo one after another “humiliating examination” by doctors, and the result pronounced her ineligible to compete as a female. She was suspended by Athletic Federation of India (AFI) for no fault of her own.
But Dutee was not the one to give up. She rose like Phoenix from the ashes, battled her way out of the dubious decision. The IAAF policy on high natural levels of testosterone in women, was suspended following the case of Dutee Chand v. Athletics Federation of India (AFI) & The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), in the Court of Arbitration for Sport, decided in July 2015.
She trained rigorously under her coaches N Ramesh and Pullela Gopichand and made the entire nation laud her unflinching strength and talent. She is an inspiration and has paved the way for many women to fight for themselves and for their dreams.
We at Meyer India salute this young achiever and wish her many more achievements and laurels.
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