Visa Denial Dashes Dutee’s European Races Dream

Bhubaneswar: Her voice dripping with disappointment, she regretted being denied a chance to compete in two IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) events in Ireland (August 13) and Germany (August 19).

Contrary to reports that she had been granted visa for 100 m dash in the two IAAF-approved races, ace sprinter Dutee Chand told Odisha Bytes that she had received some communication late on Tuesday night about some issues in her passport and the address where she was to stay. But it was too late by then.

“My dreams to participate in the races have been dashed. It was a private event and I had made all the arrangements myself. I cannot cancel the tickets since I had booked them under Tatkal. They are also not going reimburse the participation amount of Rs 4 lakh that I had paid,” she said.

Dutee also expressed her displeasure on social media by posting that the government was circulating fake news about her getting the visa.

Two days after Dutee appealed to External Affair Minister S Jaishankar to help her complete visa formalities for the races in Europe, the Odisha Sports and Youth Services department had tweeted that the golden girl of India’s track and field had been granted the same.

These races would have helped her bid to qualify for the World Athletics Championships.

On July 10, the 23-year-old sprinter from Odisha clocked 11.32 seconds to clinch the gold at the World University Games in Naples, thereby becoming the first Indian to win a gold in the 100 m event at a global meet.

She is also the third Indian woman ever to qualify for the women’s 100 m at the Summer Olympics.