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Only in India: Olympian sprinter forced to plead for shoes

  • Odisha’s Dutee Chand is the only Indian female sprinter to qualify for the Olympics after a gap of 36 years. The last athlete to achieve this was PT Usha
  • Track spikes (shoes with spikes on the bottom to increase grip) are a necessity for Dutee. But unfortunately, her shoes have worn out, and she cannot afford a new pair
Only in India: Olympian sprinter forced to plead for shoes

 

Such is the state of Indian athletes and champions that even their basic needs are not handled. We want India to figure high in the medal tally, but what about the athletes who have to earn these badges?

 

Odisha’s Dutee Chand is the only Indian female sprinter to qualify for the Olympics after a gap of 36 years. The last athlete to achieve this was PT Usha.

 

Ideally, she should currently be focussing all her efforts in practice for the big event. But how can we expect her to be confident of beating others when she lacks even basic requirements?

 

Track spikes (shoes with spikes on the bottom to increase grip) are a necessity for Dutee. But unfortunately, her shoes have worn out, and she cannot afford a new pair.

 

However, it seems the relevant sports authority, and even the state government, is so lacking in funds or initiative, that neither finds itself capable of meeting even this small requirement of those who have won laurels for the country.

 

Dutee, for her part, has requested the government many times to provide her with the necessary footwear. After all, she will be using them to represent India.

 

“I feel like a beggar when I am made to ask for shoes again and again. I have won medals for the country. Still, I feel like a beggar, and it hurts me a lot,” an emotional Dutee opened up in front of the media, as a last resort.

 

Interestingly, this is not even the only time the government has failed her. After qualifying for the Rio Olympics, Odisha’s Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced he would felicitate Dutee with ₹50,000 in cash.

 

But such promises have only remained on paper and Dutee is still waiting for help, though it is her right to be provided with this gear, considering what she has done to the country.

 

So far, there has been no reaction from state or Union government.

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