Commonwealth Games At Birmingham: Unable To Make 100M Cut, Dutee Chand Points Finger At Officials

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s ace sprinters Dutee Chand, who has been named in the 4x100m Indian women’s relay squad for the Commonwealth Games to be held in England’s Birmingham from July 28 to August 8, is upset that she did not make the cut in the individual 100m race.

Dutee said that though she was happy to be in the Indian squad, she was a bit sad that she won’t be contesting in the 100m race, an event in which she has participated in the past in mega championships.

She said that she was not entirely to blame for not being able to qualify for the 100m in the Commonwealth Games. She also blamed officials who had been supporting her for it.

Besides Dutee, Odisha’s ace sprinters Srabani Nanda has also made the Commonwealth Games cut. Both Olympians been named in the 4x100m Indian women’s relay squad.

The other athletes selected for women’s 4×100 relay are Assam’s Hima Das and MV Jilna and NS Simi of Kerala.

Olympic gold-medallist Neeraj Chopra will spearhead India’s 37-member track and field squad.

In the past also, Dutee has complained against the state government.

In March, she had stirred a row by slamming the Odisha government’s sports policy.

The star athlete had criticised the BJD government for spending more on hockey and not paying attention to other games.