Bhubaneswar: Some well-known athletes from Odisha have reacted to ace woman sprinter Dutee Chand’s revelation to mediapersons on Sunday that she was in a same-sex relationship.
International woman karateka Valena Valentina said the Supreme Court had in a historic judgement on September 6 last year legalised gay sex in India, while observing that an individual’s sexual orientation is natural and discrimination on its basis is a violation of freedom of expression. “The decision taken by Dutee is her personal choice and she has the right to lead life her own way. No one should interfere with her personal life. Rather, all should extend their support to her,” Valena said. She also said that Dutee’s decision will have no effect on her career.
Another international athlete, Parbati Sethy, felt the decision taken by the international sprinter was not right, but said she will have no problem as the Supreme Court has given its judgement in favour of same-sex relationships. “Dutee is a brand athlete and it is her personal decision,” she said.
Promising sprinter from Odisha, Amiya Mallick, said Odisha was a conservative state and one has to admit Dutee’s courage for the decision she has taken.
In her statement to the media, Dutee had said that she was in a relationship with her soulmate, a girl from her hometown of Chaka Gopalpur in Odisha. She, however, refused to identify her partner as she did not want to make her the “centre of undue attention”.
