Doha: Odisha sprinter Dutee Chand won a bronze medal in women’s 200m event on the fourth and final day of the 23rd Asian Athletics Championships here on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old Odia girl clocked a season-best 23.24 seconds in the final to clinch the bronze. Salwa Naser of Bahrain won yet another gold medal with a timing of 22.74 seconds while 100m gold medalist Olga Safronova bagged silver clocking 22.87 seconds in the event.
“I am really very happy. I missed a medal in 100m and relay. I put too much effort in the 100m, was not sure of the medal in 200m. Just did my best and I am happy,” Dutee said.
She had finished a disappointing fifth in the women’s 100m final by clocking 11.44 seconds. This was her worst performance after smashing her own national record twice in two days — in the heats (11.28) on Sunday and semifinals (11.26) on Monday.
Dutee had won a bronze in the 2017 edition in Bhubaneswar.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik took to Twitter to congratulate Dutee for her feat.
Congratulate Dutee Chand on winning Bronze for India in 200m sprint at 23rd Asian Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar. A moment of immense pride for #Odisha and the nation. Best wishes for future. #AAC2019
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) April 24, 2019
