November 03, 2024 01:48 (IST)
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Napoli, Jul 10 (UNI) Ace Indian sprinter Dutee Chand who was in the headlines after she admitted to be in a same-sex relationship with a girl from her home town has won the gold medal in women's 100-metre sprint at the 30th Summer University Games in Napoli, Italy.
She became the first Indian to do so. She clocked 11.32s in the final.
Earlier, the 23-year-old had qualified for the finals with a 11.41s finish in the semifinal and led the final race from start to finish on Tuesday.
This is the first gold medal for India at this edition of the games so far. No Indian had qualified for the 100-metre final in the history of the University Games before this.
"With years of hardwork and your blessings, I have yet again broken the record by winning the Gold in 100m dash in 11.32 seconds at The World University Games, Napoli. In the pictures, are the winners too, with a heart of Gold from Germany and Sweden," tweeted Chand on Wednesday.
She also posted a picture of herself with the gold medal and captioned it: "Picked it up". "Pull me down, I will come back stronger!" she tweeted another picture.
Dutee has become only the second Indian sprinter to win gold at a global event. Hima Das, who won gold in the World Junior Athletics Championships last year, had been the first.
President Ram Nath Kovind congratulated Dutee on her feat.
“Congratulations @DuteeChand for winning the 100m sprint at the Universiade, the World University Games, in Naples. This is India’s first such gold and a moment of immense pride for our country. Please keep up the effort, and look to greater glory at the Olympics,” the President tweeted.
Dutee replied to the President’s tweet, saying: “Thank you, sir. I will try my best to bring Olympics Gold Medal home. Once again, many thanks for your blessings.”
'Exceptional achievement of an exceptional athlete! Congratulations @DuteeChand for winning a hard earned and well deserved Gold in the Women’s 100 m finals. You make India proud,' the Prime Minster tweeted.
Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju too applauded Dutee’s efforts.
“I’ve been passionately following since my childhood but it never came. Finally, for the first time, a gold for India! Congratulations @DuteeChand for winning the 100m sprint at the Universiade, the World University Games, in Naples,” Rijiju said in his tweet.
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