Odisha Sprinter Dutee Chand In Race For BBC Indian Sportswoman Of The Year Award

New Delhi: India’s fastest woman Dutee Chand could not have asked for a better birthday gift. She features among the final nominees for the inaugural BBC Indian sportswoman of the year award announced on Monday.

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat, badminton ace PV Sindhu, pugilist MC Mary Kom and Para-badminton player Manasi Joshi are also in the race.

The winner will be announced on March 8 on the basis of public voting, which will be open till February 18 on six BBC vernacular websites.

The nominees were picked up by a panel of 40 eminent sports journalists, informed Head of BBC Indian languages Rupa Jha.

“The five athletes who got the maximum number of votes, were eventually selected as the final nominees,” she added.

Sindhu became the first Indian shuttler to become world champion last year while Mary Kom is the only Indian boxer to win eight world medals, including six gold. Similarly, Manasi became a world champion after winning gold at the para world championship.

Vinesh clinched bronze at 2019 World Championship in Nur Sultan to secure a quota for Tokyo Olympics while Dutee had won silver in 100m at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games.